Mapping solar magnetic fields from the photosphere to the base of the corona
Open Access
- 19 February 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science Advances
- Vol. 7 (8), eabe8406
- https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abe8406
Abstract
Routine ultraviolet imaging of the Sun’s upper atmosphere shows the spectacular manifestation of solar activity; yet, we remain blind to its main driver, the magnetic field. Here, we report unprecedented spectropolarimetric observations of an active region plage and its surrounding enhanced network, showing circular polarization in ultraviolet (Mg ii h & k and Mn i) and visible (Fe i) lines. We infer the longitudinal magnetic field from the photosphere to the very upper chromosphere. At the top of the plage chromosphere, the field strengths reach more than 300 G, strongly correlated with the Mg ii k line core intensity and the electron pressure. This unique mapping shows how the magnetic field couples the different atmospheric layers and reveals the magnetic origin of the heating in the plage chromosphere.Funding Information
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (16-HTIDS16 2-0027)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NNG09FA40C)
- European Research Council (742265)
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JP25220703)
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JP16H03963)
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JP19K14771)
- Swiss National Science Foundation (200021-175997)
- Swiss National Science Foundation (CRSII5-180238)
- Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CLASP2-13616A)
- Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CLASP2-13617A)
- Research Council of Norway (262622)
- Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (19-20632S)
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
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