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Solar Interior (solar + interior)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Physics and Astronomy100%

Selected Abstracts

Helioseismic analysis of the solar flare-induced sunquake of 2005 January 15

MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 3 2007
H. Moradi
ABSTRACT We report the discovery of one of the most powerful sunquakes detected to date, produced by an X1.2-class solar flare in active region AR10720 on 2005 January 15. We used helioseismic holography to image the source of seismic waves emitted into the solar interior from the site of the flare. Acoustic egression power maps at 3 and 6 mHz with a 2-mHz bandpass reveal a compact acoustic source strongly correlated with impulsive hard X-ray and visible-continuum emission along the penumbral neutral line separating the two major opposing umbrae in the ,-configuration sunspot that predominates AR10720. At 6 mHz the seismic source has two components, an intense, compact kernel located on the penumbral neutral line of the ,-configuration sunspot that predominates AR10720, and a significantly more diffuse signature distributed along the neutral line up to ,15 Mm east and ,30 Mm west of the kernel. The acoustic emission signatures were directly aligned with both hard X-ray and visible continuum emission that emanated during the flare. The visible continuum emission is estimated at 2.0 × 1023 J, approximately 500 times the seismic emission of ,4 × 1020 J. The flare of 2005 January 15 exhibits the same close spatial alignment between the sources of the seismic emission and impulsive visible continuum emission as previous flares, reinforcing the hypothesis that the acoustic emission may be driven by heating of the low photosphere. However, it is a major exception in that there was no signature to indicate the inclusion of protons in the particle beams thought to supply the energy radiated by the flare. The continued strong coincidence between the sources of seismic emission and impulsive visible continuum emission in the case of a proton-deficient white-lightflare lends substantial support to the ,back-warming' hypothesis, that the low photosphere is significantly heated by intense Balmer and Paschen continuum-edge radiation from the overlying chromosphere in white-light flares. [source]

The structure of the solar convective overshooting zone

MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 4 2001
D.R. Xiong
Using a non-local theory of convection, we calculated the structure of the solar convection zone, paying special attention to the detailed structure of the lower overshooting zone. Our results show that an extended transition zone exists near the bottom of the convection zone, where the temperature gradient turns smoothly from adiabatic in the convection zone to radiative in solar interior. A super-radiative temperature region is found in the overshooting zone under the solar convection zone, where , , and . The extension of the super-radiative region (defined by l is about 0.63 HP (0.053 R,). A careful comparison of the distribution of adiabatic sound speed and density with the local one is carried out. It is found, strikingly, that the distribution of adiabatic sound speed and density of our model is roughly consistent with the results of reversion from solar oscillation observations. [source]

The role of emerging bipoles in the formation of a sunspot penumbra

ASTRONOMISCHE NACHRICHTEN, Issue 6 2010
R. Schlichenmaier
Abstract The generation of magnetic flux in the solar interior and its transport from the convection zone into the photosphere, the chromosphere, and the corona will be in the focus of solar physics research for the next decades. With 4 m class telescopes, one plans to measure essential processes of radiative magneto-hydrodynamics that are needed to understand the nature of solar magnetic fields. One key-ingredient to understand the behavior of solar magnetic field is the process of flux emergence into the solar photosphere, and how the magnetic flux reorganizes to form the magnetic phenomena of active regions like sunspots and pores. Here, we present a spectropolarimetric and imaging data set from a region of emerging magnetic flux, in which a proto-spot without penumbra forms a penumbra. During the formation of the penumbra the area and the magnetic flux of the spot increases. First results of our data analysis demonstrate that the additional magnetic flux, which contributes to the increasing area of the penumbra, is supplied by the region of emerging magnetic flux. We observe emerging bipoles that are aligned such that the spot polarity is closer to the spot. As an emerging bipole separates, the pole of the spot polarity migrates towards the spot, and finally merges with it. We speculate that this is a fundamental process, which makes the sunspot accumulate magnetic flux. As more and more flux is accumulated a penumbra forms and transforms the proto-spot into a full-fledged sunspot (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]

Differential rotation and meridional circulation in global models of solar convection

ASTRONOMISCHE NACHRICHTEN, Issue 10 2007
M.S. MieschArticle first published online: 27 DEC 200
Abstract In the outer envelope of the Sun and in other stars, differential rotation and meridional circulation are maintained via the redistribution of momentum and energy by convective motions. In order to properly capture such processes in a numerical model, the correct spherical geometry is essential. In this paper I review recent insights into the maintenance of mean flows in the solar interior obtained from high-resolution simulations of solar convection in rotating spherical shells. The Coriolis force induces a Reynolds stress which transports angular momentum equatorward and also yields latitudinal variations in the convective heat flux. Meridional circulations induced by baroclinicity and rotational shear further redistribute angular momentum and alter the mean stratification. This gives rise to a complex nonlinear interplay between turbulent convection, differential rotation, meridional circulation, and the mean specific entropy profile. I will describe how this drama plays out in our simulations as well as in solar and stellar convection zones. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]