Bibcode
Rodriguez Hidalgo, I.; Collados, M.; Vazquez, M.
Bibliographical reference
Astronomy and Astrophysics (ISSN 0004-6361), vol. 283, no. 1, p. 263-274
Advertised on:
3
1994
Citations
8
Refereed citations
8
Description
Spectra of four lines (CI5380.3 A, MnI 5394.7 A, FeI 5930.2 A and SiI
5948.5 A) have been obtained in the quiet photosphere, at regular
intervals along the polar axis and the equator. The spatially averaged
spectra have been analyzed, studying the center-to-limb variation (CLV)
and possible changes with the heliographic latitude of the residual
intensity (RI), equivalent width (EW), full width at half line minimum
(FWHM), and bisector of the line profiles. The aim of this spectroscopic
study is to complete the photometric work carried out and recently
published by the authors (Rodriguez Hildago et al. 1992, hereafter Paper
I). It allows us to test some conclusions of Paper I and to extend our
analysis to higher photospheric layers. Firstly the general behavior of
the CLV is shown and discussed. From the comparison betwen the CLV along
the North-South and East-West diameters, it is observed that the Cl
line, formed very deep in the photosphere, broadens and shows raised
minima with latitude, not showing variations in its EW, except at very
high latitudes. The other three lines, which inform about the physical
conditions in the middle photosphere, become deeper and stronger, and
the FeI one seems broader, with latitude. The observational results are
discussed in terms of physical scenarios based on changes in the
velocity fields present in the photosphere (mainly of the granulation),
possible spatial anisotropies in the distribution of network bright
points (which would be related to differences in the mean temperature
gradient) and the latitudinal variation of the granulation contrast
found in Paper I.