Supersonic Magnetic Flows in the Quiet Sun
Abstract
In this contribution we describe some recent observations of high-speed magnetized flows in the quiet Sun granulation. These observations were carried out with the Imaging Magnetograph eXperiment (IMaX) onboard the stratospheric balloon {\sc Sunrise}, and possess an unprecedented spatial resolution and temporal cadence. These flows were identified as highly shifted circular polarization (Stokes ) signals. We estimate the LOS velocity responsible for these shifts to be larger than 6 km s, and therefore we refer to them as {\it supersonic magnetic flows}. The average lifetime of the detected events is 81.3 s and they occupy an average area of about 23\,000 km. Most of the events occur within granular cells and correspond therefore to upflows. However some others occur in intergranular lanes or bear no clear relation to the convective velocity pattern. We analyze a number of representative examples and discuss them in terms of magnetic loops, reconnection events, and convective collapse.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1202.4354,
title = {Supersonic Magnetic Flows in the Quiet Sun},
author = {J. M. Borrero and V. Martinez Pillet and R. Schlichenmaier and W. Schmidt and T. Berkefeld and S. K. Solanki and J. A. Bonet and J. C. del Toro Iniesta and V. Domingo and P. Barthol and A. Gandorfer},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1202.4354},
year = {2012}
}
Comments
14 pages; 7 figures; to appear in the proceedings of the Hinode-4 meeting: "Unsolved Problems and Recent Insights". Editors: L.R. Bellot Rubio, F. Reale, and M. Carlsson; ASP Conference Series, 2012, vol 455. Astronomical Society of the Pacific