Issue |
A&A
Volume 614, June 2018
|
|
---|---|---|
Article Number | A2 | |
Number of page(s) | 14 | |
Section | The Sun | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201731801 | |
Published online | 06 June 2018 |
High-resolution imaging and near-infrared spectroscopy of penumbral decay
1
Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP),
An der Sternwarte 16,
14482
Potsdam,
Germany
e-mail: mverma@aip.de
2
Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias,
C/ Vía Láctea s/n,
38205
La Laguna,
Tenerife,
Spain
3
Astronomical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic,
Fričova 298,
25165
Ondřejov,
Czech Republic
4
Space Weather Research Laboratory, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights Newark,
New Jersey,
USA
5
Big Bear Solar Observatory,
Big Bear City,
California,
USA
6
National Solar Observatory,
3665 Discovery Drive,
Boulder,
CO
80303,
USA
7
Universität Potsdam, Institut für Physik und Astronomie,
Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24/25,
14476
Potsdam-Golm,
Germany
8
Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences,
05960
Tatranská Lomnica,
Slovakia
Received:
19
August
2017
Accepted:
9
January
2018
Aims. Combining high-resolution spectropolarimetric and imaging data is key to understanding the decay process of sunspots as it allows us to scrutinize the velocity and magnetic fields of sunspots and their surroundings.
Methods. Active region NOAA 12597 was observed on 2016 September 24 with the 1.5-meter GREGOR solar telescope using high-spatial-resolution imaging as well as imaging spectroscopy and near-infrared (NIR) spectropolarimetry. Horizontal proper motions were estimated with local correlation tracking, whereas line-of-sight (LOS) velocities were computed with spectral line fitting methods. The magnetic field properties were inferred with the “Stokes Inversions based on Response functions” (SIR) code for the Si I and Ca I NIR lines.
Results. At the time of the GREGOR observations, the leading sunspot had two light bridges indicating the onset of its decay. One of the light bridges disappeared, and an elongated, dark umbral core at its edge appeared in a decaying penumbral sector facing the newly emerging flux. The flow and magnetic field properties of this penumbral sector exhibited weak Evershed flow, moat flow, and horizontal magnetic field. The penumbral gap adjacent to the elongated umbral core and the penumbra in that penumbral sector displayed LOS velocities similar to granulation. The separating polarities of a new flux system interacted with the leading and central part of the already established active region. As a consequence, the leading spot rotated 55° clockwise over 12 h.
Conclusions. In the high-resolution observations of a decaying sunspot, the penumbral filaments facing the flux emergence site contained a darkened area resembling an umbral core filled with umbral dots. This umbral core had velocity and magnetic field properties similar to the sunspot umbra. This implies that the horizontal magnetic fields in the decaying penumbra became vertical as observed in flare-induced rapid penumbral decay, but on a very different time-scale.
Key words: Sun: photosphere / sunspots / Sun: magnetic fields / Sun: infrared / techniques: imaging spectroscopy / techniques: spectroscopic
© ESO 2018
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