Author
Listed:
- Tetsu Anan
(National Solar Observatory)
- Roberto Casini
(NSF NCAR High Altitude Observatory)
- Han Uitenbroek
(National Solar Observatory)
- Thomas A. Schad
(National Solar Observatory)
- Hector Socas-Navarro
(Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias
Universidad de La Laguna)
- Kiyoshi Ichimoto
(Ritsumeikan University)
- Sarah A. Jaeggli
(National Solar Observatory)
- Sanjiv K. Tiwari
(Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory
NASA Research Park)
- Jeffrey W. Reep
(University of Hawai’i at Mānoa)
- Yukio Katsukawa
(National Astronomical Observatory of Japan)
- Ayumi Asai
(Kyoto University)
- Jiong Qiu
(Montana State University)
- Kevin P. Reardon
(National Solar Observatory
University of Colorado)
- Alexandra Tritschler
(National Solar Observatory)
- Friedrich Wöger
(National Solar Observatory)
- Thomas R. Rimmele
(National Solar Observatory)
Abstract
The efficient release of magnetic energy in astrophysical plasmas, such as during solar flares, can in principle be achieved through magnetic diffusion, at a rate determined by the associated electric field. However, attempts at measuring electric fields in the solar atmosphere are scarce, and none exist for sites where the magnetic energy is presumably released. Here, we present observations of an energetic event using the National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, where we detect the polarization signature of electric fields associated with magnetic diffusion. We measure the linear and circular polarization across the hydrogen Hε Balmer line at 397 nm at the site of a brightening event in the solar chromosphere. Our spectro-polarimetric modeling demonstrates that the observed polarization signals can only be explained by the presence of electric fields, providing conclusive evidence of magnetic diffusion, and opening a new window for the quantitative study of this mechanism in space plasmas.
Suggested Citation
Tetsu Anan & Roberto Casini & Han Uitenbroek & Thomas A. Schad & Hector Socas-Navarro & Kiyoshi Ichimoto & Sarah A. Jaeggli & Sanjiv K. Tiwari & Jeffrey W. Reep & Yukio Katsukawa & Ayumi Asai & Jiong , 2024.
"Magnetic diffusion in solar atmosphere produces measurable electric fields,"
Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
Handle:
RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-53102-x
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53102-x
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