Start year
1999
Organizational Unit
Organizing institutions
General
Description
Magnetic fields are at the base of star formation and stellar structure and evolution. When stars are born, magnetic fields brake the rotation during the collapse of the mollecular cloud. In the end of the life of a star, magnetic fields can play a key role in the form of the strong winds that lead to the last stages of stellar evolution. During the whole adult life of a star, magnetic fields are the origin of stellar activity. Our Sun has magnetic fields that give rise to such spectacular activity that impacts the climate on Earth. The magnetic activity in other stars is, in some cases, of orders of magnitude more intense than the solar one, influencing – often drastically – the transport of chemical species and angular momentum, as well as affecting the possible planetary systems around them.
The aim of this project is the study of the diverse manifestations of the magnetic field that can be observed in the solar atmosphere and in other stars. These include distinct structures as sunspots, weak quiet-sun fields or chromospheric and coronal features such as filaments and prominences. The following research topics have been gradually faced:
Solar magnetism
1. Structure and evolution of Sunspot magnetic fields.
2. Structure and evolution of quiet Sun magnetic fields.
3. Structure and evolution of the magnetism of the chromosphere and of chromospheric strcutures (promiences, spicules,...)
4. Structure and evolution or coronal loops.
5. Structure and evolution of the Sun's global field. Studies of the activity cycle.
6. Empirical study of propagation of magnetohydrodynamic waves in magnetic structures.
7. Empirical study of energy transfer mechanisms related with the heating of the external atmospheric layers.
8. Empirical study of the influence of partial ionisation in the dynamics of the solar atmosphere.
9. Participation in the European Solar Telescope project.
Stellar magnetism
1. Development of numerical tools to diagnose stellar magnetic fields, both in the surface and in the chromsphere.
2. Study of magnetic fields in stellar prominences.
3. Study of the role of magnetic fields in the late stages of stellar evolution.
Members
Principal investigator
Tobías
Felipe García
Project staff
Elena
Khomenko Shchukina
Íñigo
Arregui Uribe-Echevarría
Andrés
Asensio Ramos
Carlos Humberto
Domínguez-Tagle Paredes
María Jesús
Martínez González
Juan Carlos
Trelles Arjona
Carlos
Westendorp Plaza
Collaborators
Héctor David
Socas Navarro
Dr.
J.C. del Toro Iniesta
Dr.
R. Kostik
Dr.
N. Shchukina
Dr.
V. Olshevsky
Dr.
A. Sainz Dalda
Dr.
W. Schmidt
Dr.
Th. Berkefeld
Dr.
S.K. Solanki
Dr.
A. Gandorfer
Prof.
P. Cally
Dr.
S. Shelyag
Dr.
M. Stangalini
Dr.
C. Beck
Dr.
C. Kuckein
Dr.
C. Quintero Noda
Dr.
I. Calvo Santamaria
Dr.
C. González Fernández
Dr.
J.de la Cruz Rodríguez
Dr.
M. Leitzinger
Dr.
A. Pastor Yabar
Dr.
A. López Ariste
Dr.
Franco Leone
Dr.
R. Manso Sainz
Dr.
Luis R Bellot Rubio
Results
- Spiral waves in sunspots: They have been interpreted as magnetoacoustic waves propagating from the interior to the atmosphere following the direction of the magnetic field. We have characterized the magnetic field topology, dismissing the twist of the field lines as the cause of the spiral shape (Felipe et al. 2019).
- Magnetic response to umbral flashes: Simultaneous spectropolarimetric observations of the chromospheric He I 10830 and Ca II 8542 lines have been used to estimate the fluctuations of the magnetic field associated to shock waves. The shocks cause expansion of the magnetic field lines (Houston et al. 2018, including A. Asensio Ramos).
Scientific activity
Related publications
-
An active region filament studied simultaneously in the chromosphere and photosphere. I. Magnetic structureAims: A thorough multiwavelength, multiheight study of the vector magnetic field in a compact active region filament (NOAA 10781) on 2005 July 3 and 5 is presented. We suggest an evolutionary scenario for this filament. Methods: Two different inversion codes were used to analyze the full Stokes vectors acquired with the Tenerife InfraredKuckein, C. et al.
Advertised on:
32012 -
Venus transit 2004: Illustrating the capability of exoplanet transmission spectroscopyThe transit of Venus in 2004 offered the rare possibility to remotely sense a well-known planetary atmosphere using ground-based absorption spectroscopy. Transmission spectra of Venus' atmosphere were obtained in the near infrared using the Vacuum Tower Telescope (VTT) in Tenerife. Since the instrument was designed to measure the very brightHedelt, P. et al.
Advertised on:
92011 -
Twist, Writhe, and Helicity in the Inner Penumbra of a SunspotThe aim of this work is the determination of the twist, writhe, and self-magnetic helicity of penumbral filaments located in an inner sunspot penumbra. For this purpose, we inverted data taken with the spectropolarimeter on board Hinode with the SIR (Stokes Inversion based on Response function) code. For the construction of a three-dimensionalRuiz-Cobo, B. et al.
Advertised on:
22012 -
Theoretical Modeling of Propagation of Magnetoacoustic Waves in Magnetic Regions Below SunspotsWe use two-dimensional numerical simulations and eikonal approximation to study properties of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves traveling below the solar surface through the magnetic structure of sunspots. We consider a series of magnetostatic models of sunspots of different magnetic field strengths, from 10 Mm below the photosphere to the lowKhomenko, E. et al.
Advertised on:
32009 -
The Electrical Current Density Vector in the Inner Penumbra of a SunspotWe determine the entire electrical current density vector in a geometrical three-dimensional volume of the inner penumbra of a sunspot from an inversion of spectropolarimetric data obtained with Hinode/SP. Significant currents are seen to wrap around the hotter, more elevated regions with lower and more horizontal magnetic fields that harbor strongPuschmann, K. G. et al.
Advertised on:
92010 -
Supersonic Continuation of the Evershed Flow Outside a Sunspot as Observed with HinodeWe report on the discovery of mostly horizontal field channels just outside sunspot penumbrae (in the so-called "moat" region) that are seen to sustain supersonic flows (line-of-sight component of 6 km s-1). The spectral signature of these supersonic flows corresponds to circular polarization profiles with an additional, satellite, third lobe ofMartínez Pillet, V. et al.
Advertised on:
82009 -
Sunspot seismic halos generated by fast MHD wave refractionAims: We suggest an explanation for the high-frequency power excess surrounding active regions known as seismic halos. Methods: We use numerical simulations of magneto-acoustic wave propagation in a magnetostatic sunspot model. Results: We propose that seismic halos can be caused by the additional energy injected by high-frequency fast mode wavesKhomenko, E. et al.
Advertised on:
112009 -
Preliminary results on the contribution of the convection motions to the Doppler velocity signalThis investigation aims to study the correlation of the solar background with atmosphere. We used high resolution observations of the NaDl spectral line. In fact the large span in formation heights of this spectral line allowed us to infer the signal from photosphere to chromosphere. We analyzed the data by applying the SIR code (Stokes InversionSimoniello, R. et al.
Advertised on:
102008 -
Nonlinear Numerical Simulations of Magneto-Acoustic Wave Propagation in Small-Scale Flux TubesWe present results of nonlinear, two-dimensional, numerical simulations of magneto-acoustic wave propagation in the photosphere and chromosphere of small-scale flux tubes with internal structure. Waves with realistic periods of three to five minutes are studied, after horizontal and vertical oscillatory perturbations are applied to the equilibriumKhomenko, E. et al.
Advertised on:
92008 -
Magnetohydrostatic Sunspot Models from Deep Subphotospheric to Chromospheric LayersIn order to understand the influence of magnetic fields on the propagation properties of waves, as derived from different local helioseismology techniques, forward modeling of waves is required. Such calculations need a model in magnetohydrostatic equilibrium as an initial atmosphere through which to propagate oscillations. We provide a method toKhomenko, E. et al.
Advertised on:
122008 -
Magnetoacoustic Wave Energy from Numerical Simulations of an Observed Sunspot UmbraWe aim at reproducing the height dependence of sunspot wave signatures obtained from spectropolarimetric observations through three-dimensional MHD numerical simulations. A magnetostatic sunspot model based on the properties of the observed sunspot is constructed and perturbed at the photosphere, introducing the fluctuations measured with the Si IFelipe, T. et al.
Advertised on:
72011 -
Magneto-acoustic Waves in Sunspots: First Results From a New Three-dimensional Nonlinear Magnetohydrodynamic CodeWaves observed in the photosphere and chromosphere of sunspots show complex dynamics and spatial patterns. The interpretation of high-resolution sunspot wave observations requires modeling of three-dimensional (3D) nonlinear wave propagation and mode transformation in the sunspot upper layers in realistic spot model atmospheres. Here, we presentFelipe, T. et al.
Advertised on:
82010 -
Heating of the Magnetized Solar Chromosphere by Partial Ionization EffectsIn this paper, we study the heating of the magnetized solar chromosphere induced by the large fraction of neutral atoms present in this layer. The presence of neutrals, together with the decrease with height of the collisional coupling, leads to deviations from the classical magnetohydrodynamic behavior of the chromospheric plasma. A relative netKhomenko, E. et al.
Advertised on:
32012 -
Heat transfer in sunspot penumbrae. Origin of dark-cored penumbral filamentsContext: Observations at 0.1 arcsec have revealed the existence of dark cores in the bright filaments of sunspot penumbrae. Expectations are high that such dark-cored filaments are the basic building blocks of the penumbra, but their nature remains unknown. Aims: We investigate the origin of dark cores in penumbral filaments and the surplusRuiz Cobo, B. et al.
Advertised on:
92008 -
GREGOR solar telescope: Design and statusThe integration and verification phase of the GREGOR telescope reached an important milestone with the installation of the interim 1 m SolarLite primary mirror. This was the first time that the entire light path had seen sunlight. Since then extensive testing of the telescope and its subsystems has been carried out. The integration and verificationVolkmer, R. et al.
Advertised on:
62010 -
European Solar Telescope: Progress statusIn this paper, the present status of the development of the design of the European Solar Telescope is described. The telescope is devised to have the best possible angular resolution and polarimetric performance, maximizing the throughput of the whole system. To that aim, adaptive optics and multi-conjugate adaptive optics are integrated in theCollados, M. et al.
Advertised on:
62010 -
A Geometrical Height Scale for Sunspot PenumbraeInversions of spectropolarimetric observations of penumbral filaments deliver the stratification of different physical quantities in an optical depth scale. However, without establishing a geometrical height scale, their three-dimensional geometrical structure cannot be derived. This is crucial in understanding the correct spatial variation ofPuschmann, K. G. et al.
Advertised on:
92010 -
Wave Propagation and Shock Formation in Different Magnetic StructuresVelocity oscillations "measured" simultaneously at the photosphere and the chromosphere—from time series of spectropolarimetric data in the 10830 Å region—of different solar magnetic features allow us to study the properties of wave propagation as a function of the magnetic flux of the structure (i.e., two different-sized sunspots, a tiny pore, andCenteno, R. et al.
Advertised on:
22009 -
The Influence of Coronal EUV Irradiance on the Emission in the He I 10830 Å and D3 MultipletsTwo of the most attractive spectral windows for spectropolarimetric investigations of the physical properties of the plasma structures in the solar chromosphere and corona are the ones provided by the spectral lines of the He I 10830 and 5876 Å (or D3) multiplets, whose polarization signals are sensitive to the Hanle and Zeeman effects. However, inCenteno, R. et al.
Advertised on:
42008 -
Solar magnetism eXplorer (SolmeX). Exploring the magnetic field in the upper atmosphere of our closest starThe magnetic field plays a pivotal role in many fields of Astrophysics. This is especially true for the physics of the solar atmosphere. Measuring the magnetic field in the upper solar atmosphere is crucial to understand the nature of the underlying physical processes that drive the violent dynamics of the solar corona—that can also affect life onPeter, Hardi et al.
Advertised on:
42012
