Seething Horizontal Magnetic Fields in the Quiet Solar Photosphere J. Harvey, D. Branston, C. Henney, C. Keller, SOLIS and GONG Teams
Internetwork Field (pre-Hinode) Observed since 1971 (these images from 1975) PhotosphereChromosphere
IN Field Properties (pre-Hinode) Arc sec sizes Fluxes ~10 16 Mx Lifetimes ~hour Mixed polarities Orientations uncertain Move with supergranular flow True field strengths controversial Weak in chromosphere
New LOS Magnetograms Spandiameterdisk Time1 sec1 min Pixel1.1”2.5” Noise<1 G~3 G SOLISGONG
LOS Field Movie GONG Big Bear, 10.5 hr, 2007 April 27, ±20 G range, 10 min cadence Disk center Near limb Strong network Weak seething Slow evolution Points Mixed polarity Weak network Strong seething Limb seeing Mottles Mixed polarity
Seething Signal Increases Toward Limb 7 hour RMS Display range 1.3 – 2.3 G No variation with disk position other than radial Orientation must be nearly horizontal
Radial Average of Seething Signal RMS Noise- corrected RMS fit by field inclined at 74° ~1.4 G near limb (1.7 G from higher resolution SOLIS data) observed noise model noise corrected fit
Average Temporal Power Spectra Near limbs, ν -1.4 power law variation No 5-min or other oscillation More complicated near center Hard to interpret physically ν -1.4 near disk center near limb Log
Seething Field in Chromosphere Disk center Near limb SOLIS VSM, 3 hr, 2007 April 18, ±20 G range, 5 min cadence, core of 8542 Å No center- limb variation of seething field -> No preferred orientation
Results Ubiquitous nearly horizontal field Spatially patchy up to ~15” size Non-periodic time variations minutes to hours RMS near limb > 1.7 G No large-scale spatial variation Total amount of flux ~3 x Mx Weaker in chromosphere, no preferred orientation
Conclusions Could be dynamic, low-lying loops connecting network and IN flux elements? (But, no dependence on large-scale flux patterns) Time and space scales suggest local creation and driving by granular and supergranular convection (See ApJL April 20, 2007 Vol. 659, p. L177)