Quick search Find article
Quick search
Find article

Promises and Pitfalls of Solar Hα Zeeman Spectropolarimetry

FREE

K. S. Balasubramaniam1, E. B. Christopoulou1,2 and H. Uitenbroek1

Show affiliations


Zeeman spectropolarimetry of the solar disk in the Hα line is a daunting, yet promising diagnostic for measuring solar chromospheric magnetic fields. As a demonstration of its potential we used the National Solar Observatory (NSO)/High Altitude Observatory (HAO) Advanced Stokes Polarimeter to obtain simultaneous measurements of polarimetric signals from the photosphere in the Fe I 6301.5, 6302.5 Å lines and from the chromosphere in Hα. With these measurements, we explore the promises and pitfalls of Hα Zeeman spectropolarimetry. Remarkable features observed in Hα include a reversal of Zeeman polarity in the emission core across flaring active regions and highly redshifted and smeared Stokes V profiles in prominences. We reproduce the Hα Zeeman reversals using radiative transfer diagnostics, and we compare photospheric and chromospheric line-of-sight magnetic fields.


Subject headings

Sun: chromosphere; Sun: magnetic fields; techniques: polarimetric


Dates

Issue 2 (2004 May 10)

Received 2004 January 2, accepted for publication 2004 January 22



View by subject




Export








Please login to access our web services, or create an account if you don't yet have one.

You must have cookies enabled in your web browser to be able to login.

Username
Password

Forgotten your password? Get a new one here.