General
Magnetic fields pervade all astrophysical plasmas and govern most of the variability in the Universe at intermediate time scales. They are present in stars across the whole Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, in galaxies, and even perhaps in the intergalactic medium. Polarized light provides the most reliable source of information at our disposal for the remote sensing of astrophysical magnetic fields, including those on the Sun. In particular, the diagnostics of solar and stellar magnetic fields requires the measurement and physical interpretation of polarization signatures in spectral lines, which are induced by various physical mechanisms taking place at the atomic level. In addition to the familiar Zeeman effect, polarization can also be generated by various other physical processes, such as atomic level polarization induced by anisotropic pumping mechanisms, quantum interference between fine-structured or hyperfine-structured energy levels, the Hanle effect, etc. Interestingly, the polarization produced by such mechanisms is sensitive to the physical conditions of the astrophysical plasma under consideration and, in particular, to the presence of magnetic fields in a parameter domain that goes from field intensities as small as 1 micro-G to many thousands of Gauss.
The main objective of this project is to explore in depth the physics and origin of polarized radiation in astrophysical plasmas as well as its diagnostic use for understanding cosmical magnetic fields, with emphasis on the magnetism of the extended solar atmosphere. Our investigations deal with:
-the theoretical understanding of relevant polarization physics, which requires new insights into the quantum theory of polarized light scattering in the presence of magnetic and electric fields.
-the development of plasma diagnostic tools for the investigation of astrophysical magnetic fields, with emphasis on the magnetism of the extended solar atmosphere, circumstellar envelopes and planetary nebulae.
-spectropolarimetric observations and their physical interpretation.
-radiative transfer in three-dimensional models of stellar atmospheres, resulting from magneto-hydrodynamical simulations.
-atomic and molecular spectroscopy and spectro-polarimetry, with applications in several fields of astrophysics.
This research project is formed by a group of scientists convinced of the importance of complementing theoretical and observational investigations in order to face some of the present challenges of 21st century Astrophysics.
Members
Results
- We applied deep learning techniques to the analysis of observations. Using convolutional neural networks, we developed techniques for the deconvolution of observational data. These techniques were also used to accelerate the deconvolution process of ground-based observations, achieving a cadence of around a hundred images processed per second.
- We developed an inference technique based on bayesian statistics in order to interpret the observations provided by the CLASP international experiment. By parametrizing a state-of-the-art magneto-hydrodynamical model of the solar atmosphere, we found that the geometrical complexity of the transition region must be much more complex than the one provided by the model.
- We solved the problem of polarized radiation transfer in magneto-convection simulations that account for small-scale dynamo action for the Sr I line at 460.7 nm. We found that the model with most of the convection zone magnetized close to the equipartition and a surface mean field strength of 170G is compatible with the available observations.
- We studied the magnetic sensitivity of the Ca I line at 422.7nm. The linear polarization at the core is sensitive to the Hanle effect, while the linear polarization in the wings is sensitive to the magneto-optical effects, as a consequence of the newly found effect resulting from the joint action of partial redistribution and the Zeeman effects.
- We studied the formation of the H-alpha, Mg II h-k, and Ca II H-K and 845.2nm in a model atmosphere of a flaring bipolar active region, solving the radiation transfer problem taking into account partial redistribution in full 3D geometry and out of local thermodynamical equilibrium. We succeeded in reproducing common observational features of such flaring regions.
Scientific activity
Related publications
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The transfer of resonance line polarization with partial frequency redistribution and J-state interference. Theoretical approach and numerical methods
The linear polarization signals produced by scattering processes in strong resonance lines are rich in information on the magnetic and thermal structure of the chromosphere and transition region of the Sun and of other stars. A correct modeling of these signals requires accounting for partial frequency redistribution effects, as well as for the
Belluzzi, L. et al.Advertised on:
42014 -
Time Evolution of Plasma Parameters during the Rise of a Solar Prominence Instability
We present high-spatial resolution spectropolarimetric observations of a quiescent hedgerow prominence taken in the He I 1083.0 nm triplet. The observation consisted of a time series in sit-and-stare mode of ~36 minutes duration. The spectrograph's slit crossed the prominence body and we recorded the time evolution of individual vertical threads
Orozco Suárez, D. et al.Advertised on:
42014 -
Investigating the sensitivity of observed spectral energy distributions to clumpy torus properties in Seyfert galaxies
We present nuclear spectral energy distributions (SEDs) from 1 to 18 μm of a small sample of nearby, nearly face-on and undisturbed Seyfert galaxies without prominent nuclear dust lanes. These nuclear SEDs probe the central ˜35 pc of the galaxies, on average, and include photometric and spectroscopic infrared (IR) data. We use these SEDs, the
Ramos Almeida, C. et al.Advertised on:
32014 -
A meta-analysis of the magnetic line broadening in the solar atmosphere
A multiline Bayesian analysis of the Zeeman broadening in the solar atmosphere is presented. A hierarchical probabilistic model, based on the simple but realistic Milne-Eddington approximation to the solution of the radiative transfer equation is used to explain the data in the optical and near infrared. Our method makes use of the full line
Asensio Ramos, A.Advertised on:
32014 -
A search for magnetic fields on central stars in planetary nebulae
Context. One of the possible mechanisms responsible for the panoply of shapes in planetary nebulae is the presence of magnetic fields that drive the ejection of ionized material during the proto-planetary nebula phase. Aims: Therefore, detecting magnetic fields in such objects is of key importance for understanding their dynamics. Still, magnetic
Leone, F. et al.Advertised on:
32014 -
Non-coherent Continuum Scattering as a Line Polarization Mechanism
Line scattering polarization can be strongly affected by Rayleigh scattering at neutral hydrogen and Thomson scattering at free electrons. Often a depolarization of the continuum results, but the Doppler redistribution produced by the continuum scatterers, which are light (hence, fast), induces more complex interactions between the polarization in
del Pino Alemán, T. et al.Advertised on:
32014 -
Infrared Extinction in the Inner Milky Way through Red Clump Giants
While the shape of the extinction curve in the infrared is considered to be set and the extinction ratios between infrared bands are usually taken to be approximately constant, a number of recent studies point to either a spatially variable behavior of the exponent of the power law or a different extinction law altogether. In this paper, we propose
Hammersley, P. L. et al.Advertised on:
22014 -
Search for surface magnetic fields in Mira stars. First detection in χ Cygni
Context. So far, surface magnetic fields have never been detected on Mira stars. Only recently have the spectropolarimetric capabilities of measuring it via the Zeeman effect become available to us. Then, to complete the knowledge of the magnetic field and of its influence during the transition from asymptotic giant branch to planetary nebulae
Petit, P. et al.Advertised on:
12014 -
Uncovering the Deeply Embedded Active Galactic Nucleus Activity in the Nuclear Regions of the Interacting Galaxy Arp 299
We present mid-infrared (MIR) 8-13 μm spectroscopy of the nuclear regions of the interacting galaxy Arp 299 (IC 694+NGC 3690) obtained with CanariCam (CC) on the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC). The high angular resolution (~0.''3-0.''6) of the data allows us to probe nuclear physical scales between 60 and 120 pc, which is a factor of 10
Alonso-Herrero, A. et al.Advertised on:
122013 -
The European Solar Telescope
The European Solar Telescope (EST) is a project to design, build and operate an European Solar 4-meter class telescope to be located in the Canary Islands, with the participation of institutions from fifteen European countries gathered around the consortium EAST (European Association for Solar Telescopes). The project main objective up to the
Collados, M. et al.Advertised on:
02013 -
PORTA: A three-dimensional multilevel radiative transfer code for modeling the intensity and polarization of spectral lines with massively parallel computers
The interpretation of the intensity and polarization of the spectral line radiation produced in the atmosphere of the Sun and of other stars requires solving a radiative transfer problem that can be very complex, especially when the main interest lies in modeling the spectral line polarization produced by scattering processes and the Hanle and
Štěpán, J. et al.Advertised on:
92013 -
Physical properties of a sunspot chromosphere with umbral flashes
We present new high-resolution spectro-polarimetric Ca IIλ8542 observations of umbral flashes in sunspots. At nearly 0.18 arcsec, and spanning about one hour of continuous observation, this is the most detailed dataset published thus far. Our study involves both LTE and non-LTE inversions (but includes also a weak field analysis as a sanity check)
de la Cruz Rodríguez, J. et al.Advertised on:
82013 -
Improved Search of Principal Component Analysis Databases for Spectro-polarimetric Inversion
We describe a simple technique for the acceleration of spectro-polarimetric inversions based on principal component analysis (PCA) of Stokes profiles. This technique involves the indexing of the database models based on the sign of the projections (PCA coefficients) of the first few relevant orders of principal components of the four Stokes
Casini, R. et al.Advertised on:
82013 -
A Key Physical Mechanism for Understanding the Enigmatic Linear Polarization of the Solar Ba II and Na I D1 Lines
The linearly polarized spectrum of the solar limb radiation produced by scattering processes is of great diagnostic potential for exploring the magnetism of the solar atmosphere. This spectrum shows an impressive richness of spectral details and enigmatic Q/I signals, whose physical origin must be clearly understood before they can be exploited for
Belluzzi, L. et al.Advertised on:
92013 -
Diffusion of Solar Magnetic Elements up to Supergranular Spatial and Temporal Scales
The study of spatial and temporal scales on which small magnetic structures (magnetic elements) are organized in the quiet Sun may be approached by determining how they are transported on the solar photosphere by convective motions. The process involved is diffusion. Taking advantage of Hinode high spatial resolution magnetograms of a quiet-Sun
Giannattasio, F. et al.Advertised on:
62013 -
Coronal loop physical parameters from the analysis of multiple observed transverse oscillations
The analysis of quickly damped transverse oscillations of solar coronal loops using magneto-hydrodynamic seismology allows us to infer physical parameters that are difficult to measure otherwise. Under the assumption that such damped oscillations are due to the resonant conversion of global modes into Alfvén oscillations of the tube surface, we
Asensio-Ramos, A. et al.Advertised on:
62013 -
Determination of Transverse Density Structuring from Propagating Magnetohydrodynamic Waves in the Solar Atmosphere
We present a Bayesian seismology inversion technique for propagating magnetohydrodynamic transverse waves observed in coronal waveguides. The technique uses theoretical predictions for the spatial damping of propagating kink waves in transversely inhomogeneous coronal waveguides. It combines wave amplitude damping length scales along the waveguide
Arregui, I. et al.Advertised on:
62013 -
A PCA approach to stellar effective temperatures
Context. The derivation of the effective temperature of a star is a critical first step in a detailed spectroscopic analysis. Spectroscopic methods suffer from systematic errors related to model simplifications. Photometric methods may be more robust, but are exposed to the distortions caused by interstellar reddening. Direct methods are difficult
Muñoz Bermejo, J. et al.Advertised on:
52013 -
First detection of helium emissions in RR Lyrae
Context. During the past 100 years, helium emission lines have never been observed in RR Lyrae stars, especially in RRab-type ones where strong shock waves are nevertheless present in their atmosphere. Only recently have the observation of He I emission lines in 10 RRab stars and the detection of very weak He II emission in 3 of them been reported
Gillet, D. et al.Advertised on:
52013 -
Theoretical formulation of Doppler redistribution in scattering polarization within the framework of the velocity-space density matrix formalism
Within the framework of the density matrix theory for the generation and transfer of polarized radiation, velocity density matrix correlations represent an important physical aspect that, however, is often neglected in practical applications when adopting the simplifying approximation of complete redistribution on velocity. In this paper, we
Trujillo-Bueno, J. et al.Advertised on:
42013
