Issue |
A&A
Volume 627, July 2019
|
|
---|---|---|
Article Number | A47 | |
Number of page(s) | 18 | |
Section | The Sun | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201935182 | |
Published online | 02 July 2019 |
Formation and morphology of anomalous solar circular polarization
1
Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, 38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
e-mail: ecarlin@iac.es
2
Universidad de La Laguna, Dpto. Astrofisica, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
3
Istituto Ricerche Solari Locarno, 6600 Locarno, Switzerland
Received:
31
January
2019
Accepted:
28
May
2019
Context. The morphology of spectral line polarization is the most valuable observable to investigate the magnetic and dynamic solar atmosphere. However, in order to develop solar diagnosis, it is fundamental to understand the different kinds of anomalous solar signals that are routinely found in linear and circular polarization (LP,CP).
Aims. We aim to explain and characterize the morphology of solar CP signals considering nonlocal thermodynamical equilibrium (NLTE) effects.
Methods. An analytical two-layer model of the polarized radiative transfer equation is developed and used to solve the NLTE problem with atomic polarization in a semi-parametric way. The potential of the model for reproducing anomalous CP is shown with detailed calculations and examples. A new approach based on the zeroes of polarization signals is developed to explain their morphology.
Results. We have obtained a comprehensive model that insightfully describes the formation of solar polarization with certain precision without sacrificing key physical ingredients or resorting to complex atmospheric models. The essential physical behavior of dichroism and atomic orientation has been described, introducing the concepts of dichroic inversion, neutral and reinforcing medium, critical intensity spectrum, and critical source function. We show that the zero-crossings of the CP spectrum are useful to classify its morphology and understand its formation. This led to identification and explanation of the morphology of the seven most characteristic CP signals that a single (depth-resolved) scattering layer can produce. We find that a minimal number of two magnetic layers along the line of sight is required to fully explain anomalous solar CP signals and that the morphology and polarity of Stokes V depends on magnetic, radiative, and atomic “polarities”. Some implications of these results are presented through a preliminary modeling of anomalous CP signals in the Fe I 1564.8 nm and Na I D lines.
Key words: polarization / radiative transfer / scattering / stars: magnetic field / magnetic fields / Sun: atmosphere
© ESO 2019
Current usage metrics show cumulative count of Article Views (full-text article views including HTML views, PDF and ePub downloads, according to the available data) and Abstracts Views on Vision4Press platform.
Data correspond to usage on the plateform after 2015. The current usage metrics is available 48-96 hours after online publication and is updated daily on week days.
Initial download of the metrics may take a while.