Related papers: On the surface structure of sunspots
The sunspot penumbra is a transition zone between the strong vertical magnetic field area (sunspot umbra) and the quiet Sun. The penumbra has a fine filamentary structure that is characterized by magnetic field lines inclined toward the…
Previous helioseismology of sunspots has been sensitive to both the structural and magnetic aspects of sunspot structure. We aim to develop a technique that is insensitive to the magnetic component so the two aspects can be more readily…
High resolution and seeing-free spectroscopic observation of a decaying sunspot was done with the Solar Optical Telescope aboard Hinode satellite. The target was NOAA 10944 located in the west side of the solar surface from March 2 to March…
At the surface of the Sun, acoustic waves appear to be affected by the presence of strong magnetic fields in active regions. We explore the possibility that the inclined magnetic field in sunspot penumbrae may convert primarily vertically…
Many previous studies have shown that magnetic fields as well as sunspot structures present rapid and irreversible changes associated with solar flares. In this paper we first use five X-class flares observed by SDO/HMI to show that not…
High resolution spectropolarimetric data obtained by HINODE is used to characterize the small-scale penumbral magnetic field as well as the vertical and horizontal component of the Evershed effect (EE). The results demonstrate that the…
We analyze a solar active region observed by the Hinode CaII H line using the time-distance helioseismology technique, and infer wave-speed perturbation structures and flow fields beneath the active region with a high spatial resolution.…
Wave propagation through sunspots involves conversion between waves of acoustic and magnetic character. In addition, the thermal structure of sunspots is very different than that of the quiet Sun. As a consequence, the interpretation of…
Penumbrae are the manifestation of magnetoconvection in highly inclined (to the vertical direction) magnetic field. The penumbra of a sunspot tends to form, initially, along the arc of the umbra antipodal to the main region of flux…
We interpret penumbral filaments as due to convection in field-free, radially aligned gaps just below the visible surface of the penumbra, intruding into a nearly potential field above. This solves the classical discrepancy between the…
A light bridge is a prominent structure commonly observed within a sunspot. Its presence usually triggers a wealth of dynamics in a sunspot, and has a lasting impact on sunspot evolution. However, the fundamental structure of light bridges…
Sunspot fine structure has been modeled in the past by a combination of idealized magneto-convection simulations and simplified models that prescribe the magnetic field and flow structure to a large degree. Advancement in numerical methods…
The Hinode satellite opens a new era to the sunspots research, because of its high spatial resolution and temporal stability. Fine scale structures in sunspots, called umbral dots (UDs), have become one of the hottest topics in terms of the…
The polar magnetic fields of the Sun play an important role in governing solar activity and powering fast solar wind. However, because our view of the Sun is limited in the ecliptic plane, the polar regions remain largely uncharted. Using…
The sunspot penumbra is usually observed in the photosphere and it is of particular interest for its magneto-convection which seems to transport the heat from the top of the convection zone into the solar atmosphere. It is well known that…
Here we report on observations of the three-dimensional structure of a sunspot magnetic field from the photosphere to the chromosphere, obtained with the new visible/infrared spectro-polarimeter SPINOR. The observations, interpreted with a…
Inversions of spectropolarimetric observations of penumbral filaments deliver the stratification of different physical quantities in an optical depth scale. However, without establishing a geometrical height scale their three-dimensional…
The equilibrium structure of sunspots depends critically on its magnetic topology and is dominated by magnetic forces. Tension force is one component of the Lorentz force which balances the gradient of magnetic pressure in force-free…
The vertical stratification of the magnetic field strength in sunspot penumbrae is investigated by means of spectropolarimetric observations at high spatial resolution from the Hinode spacecraft. Assuming that the magnetic field changes…
The goal of helioseismology is to provide accurate information about the Sun's interior from the observations of the wave field at its surface. In the last three decades, both global and local helioseismology studies have made significant…