Bibcode
DOI
Westendorp Plaza, C.; del Toro Iniesta, J. C.; Ruiz Cobo, B.; Martínez Pillet, V.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 547, Issue 2, pp. 1148-1158.
Advertised on:
2
2001
Journal
Citations
83
Refereed citations
70
Description
The stratification with optical depth of the line-of-sight (LOS)
velocity of a simple, isolated, round sunspot observed with the Advanced
Stokes Polarimeter (ASP; Elmore et al.) presented here completes this
series of papers that investigates the stratification in optical depths
of such a typical sunspot. These results have been obtained through the
use of the SIR technique (Stokes Inversion based on Response functions
of Ruiz Cobo & del Toro Iniesta). From these data we have confirmed
that there are strong downflowing velocities at logτ5=0
that coincide spatially with the places where the magnetic field points
downward (Westendorp Plaza et al.). Further confirmation is obtained by
the application of the same method on a different sunspot, already
analyzed with the Milne-Eddington inversion technique (Stanchfield,
Thomas, & Lites). These downflows reconcile observations that have
detected Evershed velocities outside sunspots together with suggestions
of the possible return of the flow within the penumbra. The Evershed
flow seems to be concentrated in elevated channels not thicker than 1 or
2 scale heights that are mostly located in the space between magnetic
spines, i.e., in places where the magnetic field is more inclined,
weaker in the inner-middle penumbra, and stronger in the outer penumbra
and beyond the visible limits of the sunspot. This conclusion is based
upon the tight correlation found between LOS velocities and the
(reported in the second paper of this series) magnetic field strength
and zenith angle. The upstreaming material is seen in the inner penumbra
and the downstreaming in the outer penumbra. A strong increase with
optical depth has been obtained for the LOS velocities that provides
indications of the superposition of Evershed channels along the LOS. The
differential opacity effect between the center-side and the limb-side
penumbra, already reported in the second paper in this series, is also
seen in the velocity maps and has suggested the comparison of the
vertical mass flux through the upstreaming zones (mostly seen in the
center side) and the downstreaming zones (mostly seen in the limb side),
obtaining a fairly good balance between the two.