Mapping solar magnetic fields from the photosphere to the base of the corona.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 33608278.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/sciadv.abe8406 and PMC identifier 7895431.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC.
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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 <i>h</i> & <i>k</i> 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 <i>k</i> 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.