Author name code: pastor-yabar ADS astronomy entries on 2022-09-14 author:"Pastor Yabar, Adur" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Title: Quiet-Sun radiative losses: contribution to chromospheric heating Authors: Pastor Yabar, Adur; De la Cruz Rodriguez, Jaime Bibcode: 2022cosp...44.2517P Altcode: Out-of-sunspots solar magnetism is known to host a plethora of small-scale, highly dynamic, and fast evolving transient magnetic events whose contribution to the energetic and mass balance of the solar atmosphere remains to be clarified. A particularly intriguing property of the solar atmosphere is that it is not in radiative equilibrium, that is, the amount of energy escaping through radiation from higher layers is larger than from lower layers. This is a clear indication that there is a significant energy transport (other than radiation) needed to explain at least the additional energy loss through radiation in upper layers. Recently, it has been shown that this excess of energy loss is not spatially homogeneous but its variability is extreme, namely, though the average losses measured for the quiet-Sun match historical values, the spatial analysis of these losses exhibit variations in the orders of magnitude. One possible approach to shed light into this problem is to analyze what kind of thermodynamic/magnetic event (if any) is associated with these increased losses. To do so, in this contribution we present the inversion of a quiet-Sun area co-observed with photospheric and chromospheric polarimetry with CRISP (FeI 6173{\AA} and CaII 8542{\AA}) and spectroscopy in CaII K with CHROMIS and MgII h&k lines with IRIS. In order to properly handle the disparate optical systems associated with the usage of different wavelengths and facilities, we have employed a novel inversion strategy that handles coupled inversions in NLTE. In this upgrade, different optical distortions such as the point-spread-function of the telescope or different spatial sampling at different datasets are considered by means of linear transformations, not only in the forward modeling but also during the inversion step. In doing so, it is possible to achieve a much more accurate inference of the physical parameters. Here we will show the physical parameter inferences as well as the radiative losses associated and their possible source. Title: Polarimetric characterization of segmented mirrors Authors: Pastor Yabar, A.; Asensio Ramos, A.; Manso Sainz, R.; Collados, M. Bibcode: 2022ApOpt..61.4908P Altcode: 2022arXiv220514640P We study the impact of the loss of axial symmetry around the optical axis on the polarimetric properties of a telescope with segmented primary mirror when each segment is present in a different aging stage. The different oxidation stage of each segment as they are substituted in time leads to non-negligible crosstalk terms. This effect is wavelength dependent and it is mainly determined by the properties of the reflecting material. For an aluminum coating, the worst polarimetric behavior due to oxidation is found for the blue part of the visible. Contrarily, dust -- as modeled in this work -- does not significantly change the polarimetric behavior of the optical system . Depending on the telescope, there might be segment substitution sequences that strongly attenuate this instrumental polarization. Title: Inference of electric currents in the solar photosphere Authors: Pastor Yabar, A.; Borrero, J. M.; Quintero Noda, C.; Ruiz Cobo, B. Bibcode: 2021A&A...656L..20P Altcode: 2021arXiv211204356P Context. Despite their importance, routine and direct measurements of electric currents, j, in the solar atmosphere have generally not been possible.
Aims: We aim at demonstrating the capabilities of a newly developed method for determining electric currents in the solar photosphere.
Methods: We employ three-dimensional radiative magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) simulations to produce synthetic Stokes profiles in several spectral lines with a spatial resolution similar to what the newly operational 4-meter Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope solar telescope should achieve. We apply a newly developed inversion method of the polarized radiative transfer equation with magneto-hydrostatic (MHS) constraints to infer the magnetic field vector in the three-dimensional Cartesian domain, B(x, y, z), from the synthetic Stokes profiles. We then apply Ampere's law to determine the electric currents, j, from the inferred magnetic field, B(x, y, z), and compare the results with the electric currents present in the original MHD simulation.
Results: We show that the method employed here is able to attain reasonable reliability (close to 50% of the cases are within a factor of two, and this increases to 60%-70% for pixels with B ≥ 300 G) in the inference of electric currents for low atmospheric heights (optical depths at 500 nm τ5∈[1, 0.1]) regardless of whether a small or large number of spectral lines are inverted. Above these photospheric layers, the method's accuracy strongly deteriorates as magnetic fields become weaker and as the MHS approximation becomes less accurate. We also find that the inferred electric currents have a floor value that is related to low-magnetized plasma, where the uncertainty in the magnetic field inference prevents a sufficiently accurate determination of the spatial derivatives.
Conclusions: We present a method that allows the inference of the three components of the electric current vector at deep atmospheric layers (photospheric layers) from spectropolarimetric observations. Title: Improvement of the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) Vector Magnetic Field Inversion Code Authors: Griñón-Marín, Ana Belén; Pastor Yabar, Adur; Liu, Yang; Hoeksema, J. Todd; Norton, Aimee Bibcode: 2021ApJ...923...84G Altcode: 2021arXiv210909131B; 2021arXiv210909131G A spectral line inversion code, Very Fast Inversion of the Stokes Vector (VFISV), has been used since 2010 May to infer the solar atmospheric parameters from the spectropolarimetric observations taken by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory. The magnetic filling factor, the fraction of the surface with a resolution element occupied by magnetic field, is set to have a constant value of 1 in the current version of VFISV. This report describes an improved inversion strategy for the spectropolarimetric data observed with HMI for magnetic field strengths of intermediate values in areas spatially not fully resolved. The VFISV inversion code has been modified to enable inversion of the Stokes profiles with two different components: one magnetic and one nonmagnetic. In this scheme, both components share the atmospheric components except for the magnetic field vector. In order to determine whether the new strategy is useful, we evaluate the inferred parameters inverted with one magnetic component (the original version of the HMI inversion) and with two components (the improved version) using a Bayesian analysis. In pixels with intermediate magnetic field strengths (e.g., plages), the new version provides statistically significant values of filling fraction and magnetic field vector. Not only does the fitting of the Stokes profile improve, but also the inference of the magnetic parameters and line-of-sight velocity are obtained uniquely. The new strategy is also proven to be effective for mitigating the anomalous hemispheric bias in the east-west magnetic field component in moderate field regions. Title: Long-term evolution of three light bridges developed on the same sunspot Authors: Griñón-Marín, A. B.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Centeno, R.; Socas-Navarro, H. Bibcode: 2021A&A...647A.148G Altcode: 2021arXiv210204392B; 2021arXiv210204392G One important feature of sunspots is the presence of light bridges. These structures are elongated and bright (as compared to the umbra) features that seem to be related to the formation and evolution of sunspots. In this work, we studied the long-term evolution and the stratification of different atmospheric parameters of three light bridges formed in the same host sunspot by different mechanisms. To accomplish this, we used data taken with the GREGOR Infrared Spectrograph installed at the GREGOR telescope. These data were inverted to infer the physical parameters of the atmosphere where the observed spectral profiles were formed of the three light bridges. We find that, in general, the behaviour of the three light bridges is typical of this kind of structure with the magnetic field strength, inclination, and temperature values between the values at the umbra and the penumbra. We also find that they are of a significantly non-magnetic character (particularly at the axis of the light bridges) as it is deduced from the filling factor. In addition, within the common behaviour of the physical properties of light bridges, we observe that each one exhibits a particular behaviour. Another interesting result is that the light bridge cools down, the magnetic field decreases, and the magnetic field lines get more inclined higher in the atmosphere. Finally, we studied the magnetic and non-magnetic line-of-sight velocities of the light bridges. The former shows that the magnetic component is at rest and, interestingly, its variation with optical depth shows a bi-modal behaviour. For the line-of-sight velocity of the non-magnetic component, we see that the core of the light bridge is at rest or with shallow upflows and clear downflows sinking through the edges. Title: Combining magneto-hydrostatic constraints with Stokes profiles inversions. II. Application to Hinode/SP observations Authors: Borrero, J. M.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Ruiz Cobo, B. Bibcode: 2021A&A...647A.190B Altcode: 2021arXiv210104394B Context. Inversion techniques applied to the radiative transfer equation for polarized light are capable of inferring the physical parameters in the solar atmosphere (temperature T, magnetic field B, and line-of-sight velocity vlos) from observations of the Stokes vector (i.e., spectropolarimetric observations) in spectral lines. Inferences are usually performed in the (x, y, τc) domain, where τc refers to the optical-depth scale. Generally, their determination in the (x, y, z) volume is not possible due to the lack of a reliable estimation of the gas pressure, particularly in regions of the solar surface harboring strong magnetic fields.
Aims: We aim to develop a new inversion code capable of reliably inferring the physical parameters in the (x, y, z) domain.
Methods: We combine, in a self-consistent way, an inverse solver for the radiative transfer equation (Firtez-DZ) with a solver for the magneto-hydrostatic equilibrium, which derives realistic values of the gas pressure by taking the magnetic pressure and tension into account.
Results: We test the correct behavior of the newly developed code with spectropolarimetric observations of two sunspots recorded with the spectropolarimeter (SP) instrument on board the Hinode spacecraft, and we show how the physical parameters are inferred in the (x, y, z) domain, with the Wilson depression of the sunspots arising as a natural consequence of the force balance. In particular, our approach significantly improves upon previous determinations that were based on semiempirical models.
Conclusions: Our results open the door for the possibility of calculating reliable electric currents in three dimensions, j(x, y, z), in the solar photosphere. Further consistency checks would include a comparison with other methods that have recently been proposed and which achieve similar goals. Title: Inference of the chromospheric magnetic field configuration of solar plage using the Ca II 8542 Å line Authors: Pietrow, A. G. M.; Kiselman, D.; de la Cruz Rodríguez, J.; Díaz Baso, C. J.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Yadav, R. Bibcode: 2020A&A...644A..43P Altcode: 2020arXiv200614486P Context. It has so far proven impossible to reproduce all aspects of the solar plage chromosphere in quasi-realistic numerical models. The magnetic field configuration in the lower atmosphere is one of the few free parameters in such simulations. The literature only offers proxy-based estimates of the field strength, as it is difficult to obtain observational constraints in this region. Sufficiently sensitive spectro-polarimetric measurements require a high signal-to-noise ratio, spectral resolution, and cadence, which are at the limit of current capabilities.
Aims: We use critically sampled spectro-polarimetric observations of the Ca II 8542 Å line obtained with the CRISP instrument of the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope to study the strength and inclination of the chromospheric magnetic field of a plage region. This will provide direct physics-based estimates of these values, which could aid modelers to put constraints on plage models.
Methods: We increased the signal-to-noise ratio of the data by applying several methods including deep learning and PCA. We estimated the noise level to be 1 × 10-3 Ic. We then used STiC, a non-local thermodynamic equilibrium inversion code to infer the atmospheric structure and magnetic field pixel by pixel.
Results: We are able to infer the magnetic field strength and inclination for a plage region and for fibrils in the surrounding canopy. In the plage we report an absolute field strength of |B| = 440 ± 90 G, with an inclination of 10° ±16° with respect to the local vertical. This value for |B| is roughly double of what was reported previously, while the inclination matches previous studies done in the photosphere. In the fibrillar region we found |B| = 300 ± 50 G, with an inclination of 50° ±13°. Title: The dynamics of a solar arch filament system from the chromosphere to the photosphere Authors: González Manrique, S. J.; Kuckein, C.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Diercke, A.; Collados, M.; Gömöry, P.; Zhong, S.; Hou, Y.; Denker, C. Bibcode: 2020sea..confE.199G Altcode: We study the dynamics of plasma along the legs of an arch filament system (AFS) from the chromosphere to the photosphere, observed with high-cadence spectroscopic data from two ground-based solar telescopes: the GREGOR telescope (Tenerife) using the GREGOR Infrared Spectrograph in the He I 10830 Å range and the Swedish Solar Telescope (La Palma) using the CRisp Imaging Spectro-Polarimeter to observe the Ca II 8542 Å and Fe I 6173 Å spectral lines. The temporal evolution of the draining of the plasma was followed along the legs of a single arch filament from the chromosphere to the photosphere. The average Doppler velocities inferred at the upper chromosphere from the He I 10830 Å triplet reach velocities up to 20-24 km s-1, and in the lower chromosphere and upper photosphere the Doppler velocities reach up to 11 km s-1 and 1.5 km s-1 in the case of the Ca II 8542 Å and Si I 10827 Å spectral lines, respectively. The evolution of the Doppler velocities at different layers of the solar atmosphere (chromosphere and upper photosphere) shows that they follow the same line-of-sight (LOS) velocity patern, which confirms the observational evidence that the plasma drains toward the photosphere as proposed in models of AFSs. The observations and the nonlinear force-free field (NLFFF) extrapolations demonstrate that the magnetic field loops of the AFS rise with time. Title: Discovery of long-period magnetic field oscillations and motions in isolated sunspots Authors: Griñón-Marín, A. B.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Socas-Navarro, H.; Centeno, R. Bibcode: 2020A&A...635A..64G Altcode: 2020arXiv200106030G We analyse the temporal evolution of the inclination component of the magnetic field vector for the penumbral area of 25 isolated sunspots. Compared to previous works, the use of data from the HMI instrument aboard the SDO observatory facilitates the study of a very long time series (≈1 week) with a good spatial and temporal resolution. We used the wavelet technique and we found some filamentary-shaped events with large wavelet power. Their distribution of periods is broad, ranging from the lower limit for this study of 48 min up to 63 h. An interesting property of these events is that they do not appear homogeneously all around the penumbra but they seem to concentrate at particular locations. The cross-comparison of these wavelet maps with AIA data shows that the regions where these events appear are visually related to the coronal loops that connect the outer penumbra to one or more neighbouring opposite polarity flux patches. Title: Photospheric magnetic topology of a north polar region Authors: Pastor Yabar, A.; Martínez González, M. J.; Collados, M. Bibcode: 2020A&A...635A.210P Altcode: 2020arXiv200304267P
Aims: We aim to characterise the magnetism of a large fraction of the north polar region close to a maximum of activity, when the polar regions are reversing their dominant polarity.
Methods: We make use of full spectropolarimetric data from the CRisp Imaging Spectro-Polarimeter installed at the Swedish Solar Telescope. The data consist of a photospheric spectral line, which is used to infer the various physical parameters of different quiet Sun regions by means of the solution of the radiative transfer equation. We focus our analysis on the properties found for the north polar region and their comparison to the same analysis applied to data taken at disc centre and low-latitude quiet Sun regions for reference. We also analyse the spatial distribution of magnetic structures throughout the north polar region.
Results: We find that the physical properties of the polar region (line-of-sight velocity, magnetic flux, magnetic inclination and magnetic azimuth) are compatible with those found for the quiet Sun at disc centre and are similar to the ones found at low latitudes close to the limb. Specifically, the polar region magnetism presents no specific features. The structures for which the transformation from a line-of-sight to a local reference frame was possible harbour large magnetic fluxes (>1017 Mx) and are in polarity imbalance with a dominant positive polarity, the largest ones (>1019 Mx) being located below 73° latitude. Title: Tracking Downflows from the Chromosphere to the Photosphere in a Solar Arch Filament System Authors: González Manrique, Sergio Javier; Kuckein, Christoph; Pastor Yabar, Adur; Diercke, Andrea; Collados, Manuel; Gömöry, Peter; Zhong, Sihui; Hou, Yijun; Denker, Carsten Bibcode: 2020ApJ...890...82G Altcode: 2020arXiv200107078G We study the dynamics of plasma along the legs of an arch filament system (AFS) from the chromosphere to the photosphere, observed with high-cadence spectroscopic data from two ground-based solar telescopes: the GREGOR telescope (Tenerife) using the GREGOR Infrared Spectrograph in the He I 10830 Å range and the Swedish Solar Telescope (La Palma) using the CRisp Imaging Spectro-Polarimeter to observe the Ca II 8542 Å and Fe I 6173 Å spectral lines. The temporal evolution of the draining of the plasma was followed along the legs of a single arch filament from the chromosphere to the photosphere. The average Doppler velocities inferred at the upper chromosphere from the He I 10830 Å triplet reach velocities up to 20-24 km s-1, and in the lower chromosphere and upper photosphere the Doppler velocities reach up to 11 km s-1 and 1.5 km s-1 in the case of the Ca II 8542 Å and Si I 10827 Å spectral lines, respectively. The evolution of the Doppler velocities at different layers of the solar atmosphere (chromosphere and upper photosphere) shows that they follow the same line-of-sight (LOS) velocity pattern, which confirms the observational evidence that the plasma drains toward the photosphere as proposed in models of AFSs. The Doppler velocity maps inferred from the lower photospheric Ca I 10839 Å or Fe I 6173 Å spectral lines do not show the same LOS velocity pattern. Thus, there is no evidence that the plasma reaches the lower photosphere. The observations and the nonlinear force-free field (NLFFF) extrapolations demonstrate that the magnetic field loops of the AFS rise with time. We found flow asymmetries at different footpoints of the AFS. The NLFFF values of the magnetic field strength help us to explain these flow asymmetries. Title: Combining magnetohydrostatic constraints with Stokes profiles inversions. I. Role of boundary conditions Authors: Borrero, J. M.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Rempel, M.; Ruiz Cobo, B. Bibcode: 2019A&A...632A.111B Altcode: Context. Inversion codes for the polarized radiative transfer equation, when applied to spectropolarimetric observations (i.e., Stokes vector) in spectral lines, can be used to infer the temperature T, line-of-sight velocity vlos, and magnetic field B as a function of the continuum optical-depth τc. However, they do not directly provide the gas pressure Pg or density ρ. In order to obtain these latter parameters, inversion codes rely instead on the assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium (HE) in addition to the equation of state (EOS). Unfortunately, the assumption of HE is rather unrealistic across magnetic field lines, causing estimations of Pg and ρ to be unreliable. This is because the role of the Lorentz force, among other factors, is neglected. Unreliable gas pressure and density also translate into an inaccurate conversion from optical depth τc to geometrical height z.
Aims: We aim at improving the determination of the gas pressure and density via the application of magnetohydrostatic (MHS) equilibrium instead of HE.
Methods: We develop a method to solve the momentum equation under MHS equilibrium (i.e., taking the Lorentz force into account) in three dimensions. The method is based on the iterative solution of a Poisson-like equation. Considering the gas pressure Pg and density ρ from three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of sunspots as a benchmark, we compare the results from the application of HE and MHS equilibrium using boundary conditions with different degrees of realism. Employing boundary conditions that can be applied to actual observations, we find that HE retrieves the gas pressure and density with an error smaller than one order of magnitude (compared to the MHD values) in only about 47% of the grid points in the three-dimensional domain. Moreover, the inferred values are within a factor of two of the MHD values in only about 23% of the domain. This translates into an error of about 160 - 200 km in the determination of the z - τc conversion (i.e., Wilson depression). On the other hand, the application of MHS equilibrium with similar boundary conditions allows determination of Pg and ρ with an error smaller than an order of magnitude in 84% of the domain. The inferred values are within a factor of two in more than 55% of the domain. In this latter case, the z - τc conversion is obtained with an accuracy of 30 - 70 km. Inaccuracies are due in equal part to deviations from MHS equilibrium and to inaccuracies in the boundary conditions.
Results: Compared to HE, our new method, based on MHS equilibrium, significantly improves the reliability in the determination of the density, gas pressure, and conversion between geometrical height z and continuum optical depth τc. This method could be used in conjunction with the inversion of the radiative transfer equation for polarized light in order to determine the thermodynamic, kinematic, and magnetic parameters of the solar atmosphere. Title: Combining magneto-hydrostatic constraints with Stokes profiles inversions Authors: Borrero, J. M.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Rempel, M.; Ruiz Cobo, B. Bibcode: 2019arXiv191014131B Altcode: Inversion codes for the polarized radiative transfer equation can be used to infer the temperature $T$, line-of-sight velocity $v_{\rm los}$, and magnetic field $\rm{\bf B}$ as a function of the continuum optical-depth $\tau_{\rm c}$. However, they do not directly provide the gas pressure $P_{\rm g}$ or density $\rho$. In order to obtain these latter parameters, inversion codes rely instead on the assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium (HE) in addition to the equation of state (EOS). Unfortunately, the assumption of HE is rather unrealistic across magnetic field lines. This is because the role of the Lorentz force, among other factors, is neglected. This translates into an inaccurate conversion from optical depth $\tau_{\rm c}$ to geometrical height $z$. We aim at improving this conversion via the application of magneto-hydrostatic (MHS) equilibrium instead of HE. We develop a method to solve the momentum equation under MHS equilibrium (i.e., taking the Lorentz force into account) in three dimensions. The method is based on the solution of a Poisson-like equation. Considering the gas pressure $P_{\rm g}$ and density $\rho$ from three-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of sunspots as a benchmark, we compare the results from the application of HE and MHS equilibrium. We find that HE retrieves the gas pressure and density within an order of magnitude of the MHD values in only about 47 \% of the domain. This translates into an error of about $160-200$ km in the determination of the $z-\tau_{\rm c}$ conversion. On the other hand, the application of MHS equilibrium allows determination of $P_{\rm g}$ and $\rho$ within an order of magnitude in 84 \% of the domain. In this latter case, the $z-\tau_{\rm c}$ conversion is obtained with an accuracy of $30-70$ km. Title: FIRTEZ-dz. A forward and inverse solver of the polarized radiative transfer equation under Zeeman regime in geometrical scale Authors: Pastor Yabar, A.; Borrero, J. M.; Ruiz Cobo, B. Bibcode: 2019A&A...629A..24P Altcode: 2019arXiv190808075P We present a numerical code that solves the forward and inverse problem of the polarized radiative transfer equation in geometrical scale under the Zeeman regime. The code is fully parallelized, making it able to easily handle large observational and simulated datasets. We checked the reliability of the forward and inverse modules through different examples. In particular, we show that even when properly inferring various physical parameters (temperature, magnetic field components, and line-of-sight velocity) in optical depth, their reliability in height-scale depends on the accuracy with which the gas-pressure or density are known. The code is made publicly available as a tool to solve the radiative transfer equation and perform the inverse solution treating each pixel independently. An important feature of this code, that will be exploited in the future, is that working in geometrical-scale allows for the direct calculation of spatial derivatives, which are usually required in order to estimate the gas pressure and/or density via the momentum equation in a three-dimensional volume, in particular the three-dimensional Lorenz force. Title: Photospheric Magnetic Fields of the Trailing Sunspots in Active Region NOAA 12396 Authors: Verma, M.; Balthasar, H.; Denker, C.; Böhm, F.; Fischer, C. E.; Kuckein, C.; González Manrique, S. J.; Sobotka, M.; Bello González, N.; Diercke, A.; Berkefeld, T.; Collados, M.; Feller, A.; Hofmann, A.; Lagg, A.; Nicklas, H.; Orozco Suárez, D.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Rezaei, R.; Schlichenmaier, R.; Schmidt, D.; Schmidt, W.; Sigwarth, M.; Solanki, S. K.; Soltau, D.; Staude, J.; Strassmeier, K.; Volkmer, R.; von der Lühe, O.; Waldmann, T. Bibcode: 2019ASPC..526..291V Altcode: 2018arXiv180507752V The solar magnetic field is responsible for all aspects of solar activity. Sunspots are the main manifestation of the ensuing solar activity. Combining high-resolution and synoptic observations has the ambition to provide a comprehensive description of the sunspot growth and decay processes. Active region NOAA 12396 emerged on 2015 August 3 and was observed three days later with the 1.5-meter GREGOR solar telescope on 2015 August 6. High-resolution spectropolarimetric data from the GREGOR Infrared Spectrograph (GRIS) are obtained in the photospheric lines Si I λ1082.7 nm and Ca I λ1083.9 nm, together with the chromospheric He I λ1083.0 nm triplet. These near-infrared spectropolarimetric observations were complemented by synoptic line-of-sight magnetograms and continuum images of the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) and EUV images of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Title: Real-time, multiframe, blind deconvolution of solar images Authors: Asensio Ramos, A.; de la Cruz Rodríguez, J.; Pastor Yabar, A. Bibcode: 2018A&A...620A..73A Altcode: 2018arXiv180607150A The quality of images of the Sun obtained from the ground are severely limited by the perturbing effect of the Earth's turbulent atmosphere. The post-facto correction of the images to compensate for the presence of the atmosphere require the combination of high-order adaptive optics techniques, fast measurements to freeze the turbulent atmosphere, and very time-consuming blind deconvolution algorithms. Under mild seeing conditions, blind deconvolution algorithms can produce images of astonishing quality. They can be very competitive with those obtained from space, with the huge advantage of the flexibility of the instrumentation thanks to the direct access to the telescope. In this contribution we make use of deep learning techniques to significantly accelerate the blind deconvolution process and produce corrected images at a peak rate of ∼100 images per second. We present two different architectures that produce excellent image corrections with noise suppression while maintaining the photometric properties of the images. As a consequence, polarimetric signals can be obtained with standard polarimetric modulation without any significant artifact. With the expected improvements in computer hardware and algorithms, we anticipate that on-site real-time correction of solar images will be possible in the near future. Title: Magnetic topology of the north solar pole Authors: Pastor Yabar, A.; Martínez González, M. J.; Collados, M. Bibcode: 2018A&A...616A..46P Altcode: 2018arXiv180409075P; 2018A&A...616A..46Y The magnetism at the poles is similar to that of the quiet Sun in the sense that no active regions are present there. However, the polar quiet Sun is somewhat different from that at the activity belt as it has a global polarity that is clearly modulated by the solar cycle. We study the polar magnetism near an activity maximum when these regions change their polarity, from which it is expected that its magnetism should be less affected by the global field. To fully characterise the magnetic field vector, we use deep full Stokes polarimetric observations of the 15 648.5 and 15 652.8 Å FeI lines. We observe the north pole as well as a quiet region at disc centre to compare their field distributions. In order to calibrate the projection effects, we observe an additional quiet region at the east limb. We find that the two limb datasets share similar magnetic field vector distributions. This means that close to a maximum, the poles look like typical limb, quiet-Sun regions. However, the magnetic field distributions at the limbs are different from the distribution inferred at disc centre. At the limbs, we infer a new population of magnetic fields with relatively strong intensities ( 600-800 G), inclined by 30° with respect to the line of sight, and with an azimuth aligned with the solar disc radial direction. This line-of-sight orientation interpreted as a single magnetic field gives rise to non-vertical fields in the local reference frame and aligned towards disc centre. This peculiar topology is very unlikely for such strong fields according to theoretical considerations. We propose that this new population at the limbs is due to the observation of unresolved magnetic loops as seen close to the limb. These loops have typical granular sizes as measured in the disc centre. At the limbs, where the spatial resolution decreases, we observe them spatially unresolved, which explains the new population of magnetic fields that is inferred. This is the first (indirect) evidence of small-scale magnetic loops outside the disc centre and would imply that these small-scale structures are ubiquitous on the entire solar surface. This result has profound implications for the energetics not only of the photosphere, but also of the outer layers since these loops have been reported to reach the chromosphere and the low corona. Title: Dissecting the long-term emission behaviour of the BL Lac object Mrk 421 Authors: Carnerero, M. I.; Raiteri, C. M.; Villata, M.; Acosta-Pulido, J. A.; Larionov, V. M.; Smith, P. S.; D'Ammando, F.; Agudo, I.; Arévalo, M. J.; Bachev, R.; Barnes, J.; Boeva, S.; Bozhilov, V.; Carosati, D.; Casadio, C.; Chen, W. P.; Damljanovic, G.; Eswaraiah, E.; Forné, E.; Gantchev, G.; Gómez, J. L.; González-Morales, P. A.; Griñón-Marín, A. B.; Grishina, T. S.; Holden, M.; Ibryamov, S.; Joner, M. D.; Jordan, B.; Jorstad, S. G.; Joshi, M.; Kopatskaya, E. N.; Koptelova, E.; Kurtanidze, O. M.; Kurtanidze, S. O.; Larionova, E. G.; Larionova, L. V.; Latev, G.; Lázaro, C.; Ligustri, R.; Lin, H. C.; Marscher, A. P.; Martínez-Lombilla, C.; McBreen, B.; Mihov, B.; Molina, S. N.; Moody, J. W.; Morozova, D. A.; Nikolashvili, M. G.; Nilsson, K.; Ovcharov, E.; Pace, C.; Panwar, N.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Pearson, R. L.; Pinna, F.; Protasio, C.; Rizzi, N.; Redondo-Lorenzo, F. J.; Rodríguez-Coira, G.; Ros, J. A.; Sadun, A. C.; Savchenko, S. S.; Semkov, E.; Slavcheva-Mihova, L.; Smith, N.; Strigachev, A.; Troitskaya, Yu. V.; Troitsky, I. S.; Vasilyev, A. A.; Vince, O. Bibcode: 2017MNRAS.472.3789C Altcode: 2017arXiv170902237C We report on long-term multiwavelength monitoring of blazar Mrk 421 by the GLAST-AGILE Support Program of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (GASP-WEBT) collaboration and Steward Observatory, and by the Swift and Fermi satellites. We study the source behaviour in the period 2007-2015, characterized by several extreme flares. The ratio between the optical, X-ray and γ-ray fluxes is very variable. The γ-ray flux variations show a fair correlation with the optical ones starting from 2012. We analyse spectropolarimetric data and find wavelength-dependence of the polarization degree (P), which is compatible with the presence of the host galaxy, and no wavelength dependence of the electric vector polarization angle (EVPA). Optical polarimetry shows a lack of simple correlation between P and flux and wide rotations of the EVPA. We build broad-band spectral energy distributions with simultaneous near-infrared and optical data from the GASP-WEBT and ultraviolet and X-ray data from the Swift satellite. They show strong variability in both flux and X-ray spectral shape and suggest a shift of the synchrotron peak up to a factor of ∼50 in frequency. The interpretation of the flux and spectral variability is compatible with jet models including at least two emitting regions that can change their orientation with respect to the line of sight. Title: Flows along arch filaments observed in the GRIS `very fast spectroscopic mode' Authors: González Manrique, S. J.; Denker, C.; Kuckein, C.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Collados, M.; Verma, M.; Balthasar, H.; Diercke, A.; Fischer, C. E.; Gömöry, P.; Bello González, N.; Schlichenmaier, R.; Cubas Armas, M.; Berkefeld, T.; Feller, A.; Hoch, S.; Hofmann, A.; Lagg, A.; Nicklas, H.; Orozco Suárez, D.; Schmidt, D.; Schmidt, W.; Sigwarth, M.; Sobotka, M.; Solanki, S. K.; Soltau, D.; Staude, J.; Strassmeier, K. G.; Volkmer, R.; von der Lühe, O.; Waldmann, T. Bibcode: 2017IAUS..327...28G Altcode: 2017arXiv170102206G A new generation of solar instruments provides improved spectral, spatial, and temporal resolution, thus facilitating a better understanding of dynamic processes on the Sun. High-resolution observations often reveal multiple-component spectral line profiles, e.g., in the near-infrared He i 10830 Å triplet, which provides information about the chromospheric velocity and magnetic fine structure. We observed an emerging flux region, including two small pores and an arch filament system, on 2015 April 17 with the `very fast spectroscopic mode' of the GREGOR Infrared Spectrograph (GRIS) situated at the 1.5-meter GREGOR solar telescope at Observatorio del Teide, Tenerife, Spain. We discuss this method of obtaining fast (one per minute) spectral scans of the solar surface and its potential to follow dynamic processes on the Sun. We demonstrate the performance of the `very fast spectroscopic mode' by tracking chromospheric high-velocity features in the arch filament system. Title: Multiwavelength observations of a VHE gamma-ray flare from PKS 1510-089 in 2015 Authors: Ahnen, M. L.; Ansoldi, S.; Antonelli, L. A.; Arcaro, C.; Babić, A.; Banerjee, B.; Bangale, P.; Barres de Almeida, U.; Barrio, J. A.; Bednarek, W.; Bernardini, E.; Berti, A.; Biasuzzi, B.; Biland, A.; Blanch, O.; Bonnefoy, S.; Bonnoli, G.; Borracci, F.; Bretz, T.; Carosi, R.; Carosi, A.; Chatterjee, A.; Colin, P.; Colombo, E.; Contreras, J. L.; Cortina, J.; Covino, S.; Cumani, P.; Da Vela, P.; Dazzi, F.; De Angelis, A.; De Lotto, B.; de Oña Wilhelmi, E.; Di Pierro, F.; Doert, M.; Domínguez, A.; Dominis Prester, D.; Dorner, D.; Doro, M.; Einecke, S.; Eisenacher Glawion, D.; Elsaesser, D.; Engelkemeier, M.; Fallah Ramazani, V.; Fernández-Barral, A.; Fidalgo, D.; Fonseca, M. V.; Font, L.; Fruck, C.; Galindo, D.; García López, R. J.; Garczarczyk, M.; Gaug, M.; Giammaria, P.; Godinović, N.; Gora, D.; Guberman, D.; Hadasch, D.; Hahn, A.; Hassan, T.; Hayashida, M.; Herrera, J.; Hose, J.; Hrupec, D.; Hughes, G.; Ishio, K.; Konno, Y.; Kubo, H.; Kushida, J.; Kuveždić, D.; Lelas, D.; Lindfors, E.; Lombardi, S.; Longo, F.; López, M.; Majumdar, P.; Makariev, M.; Maneva, G.; Manganaro, M.; Mannheim, K.; Maraschi, L.; Mariotti, M.; Martínez, M.; Mazin, D.; Menzel, U.; Mirzoyan, R.; Moralejo, A.; Moretti, E.; Nakajima, D.; Neustroev, V.; Niedzwiecki, A.; Nievas Rosillo, M.; Nilsson, K.; Nishijima, K.; Noda, K.; Nogués, L.; Paiano, S.; Palacio, J.; Palatiello, M.; Paneque, D.; Paoletti, R.; Paredes, J. M.; Paredes-Fortuny, X.; Pedaletti, G.; Peresano, M.; Perri, L.; Persic, M.; Poutanen, J.; Prada Moroni, P. G.; Prandini, E.; Puljak, I.; Garcia, J. R.; Reichardt, I.; Rhode, W.; Ribó, M.; Rico, J.; Saito, T.; Satalecka, K.; Schroeder, S.; Schweizer, T.; Shore, S. N.; Sillanpää, A.; Sitarek, J.; Šnidarić, I.; Sobczynska, D.; Stamerra, A.; Strzys, M.; Surić, T.; Takalo, L.; Tavecchio, F.; Temnikov, P.; Terzić, T.; Tescaro, D.; Teshima, M.; Torres, D. F.; Torres-Albà, N.; Toyama, T.; Treves, A.; Vanzo, G.; Vazquez Acosta, M.; Vovk, I.; Ward, J. E.; Will, M.; Wu, M. H.; Zarić, D.; Desiante, R.; Becerra González, J.; D'Ammando, F.; Larsson, S.; Raiteri, C. M.; Reinthal, R.; Lähteenmäki, A.; Järvelä, E.; Tornikoski, M.; Ramakrishnan, V.; Jorstad, S. G.; Marscher, A. P.; Bala, V.; MacDonald, N. R.; Kaur, N.; Sameer; Baliyan, K.; Acosta-Pulido, J. A.; Lazaro, C.; Martínez-Lombilla, C.; Grinon-Marin, A. B.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Protasio, C.; Carnerero, M. I.; Jermak, H.; Steele, I. A.; Larionov, V. M.; Borman, G. A.; Grishina, T. S. Bibcode: 2017A&A...603A..29A Altcode: 2016arXiv161009416M Context. PKS 1510-089 is one of only a few flat spectrum radio quasars detected in the very-high-energy (VHE, > 100 GeV) gamma-ray band.
Aims: We study the broadband spectral and temporal properties of the PKS 1510-089 emission during a high gamma-ray state.
Methods: We performed VHE gamma-ray observations of PKS 1510-089 with the Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cherenkov (MAGIC) telescopes during a long, high gamma-ray state in May 2015. In order to perform broadband modeling of the source, we have also gathered contemporaneous multiwavelength data in radio, IR, optical photometry and polarization, UV, X-ray, and GeV gamma-ray ranges. We construct a broadband spectral energy distribution (SED) in two periods, selected according to VHE gamma-ray state.
Results: PKS 1510-089 was detected by MAGIC during a few day-long observations performed in the middle of a long, high optical and gamma-ray state, showing for the first time a significant VHE gamma-ray variability. Similarly to the optical and gamma-ray high state of the source detected in 2012, it was accompanied by a rotation of the optical polarization angle and the emission of a new jet component observed in radio. However, owing to large uncertainty on the knot separation time, the association with the VHE gamma-ray emission cannot be firmly established. The spectral shape in the VHE band during the flare is similar to those obtained during previous measurements of the source. The observed flux variability sets constraints for the first time on the size of the region from which VHE gamma rays are emitted. We model the broadband SED in the framework of the external Compton scenario and discuss the possible emission site in view of multiwavelength data and alternative emission models. Title: Synchrotron emission from the blazar PG 1553+113. An analysis of its flux and polarization variability Authors: Raiteri, C. M.; Nicastro, F.; Stamerra, A.; Villata, M.; Larionov, V. M.; Blinov, D.; Acosta-Pulido, J. A.; Arévalo, M. J.; Arkharov, A. A.; Bachev, R.; Borman, G. A.; Carnerero, M. I.; Carosati, D.; Cecconi, M.; Chen, W. -P.; Damljanovic, G.; Di Paola, A.; Ehgamberdiev, Sh. A.; Frasca, A.; Giroletti, M.; González-Morales, P. A.; Griñon-Marín, A. B.; Grishina, T. S.; Huang, P. -C.; Ibryamov, S.; Klimanov, S. A.; Kopatskaya, E. N.; Kurtanidze, O. M.; Kurtanidze, S. O.; Lähteenmäki, A.; Larionova, E. G.; Larionova, L. V.; Lázaro, C.; Leto, G.; Liodakis, I.; Martínez-Lombilla, C.; Mihov, B.; Mirzaqulov, D. O.; Mokrushina, A. A.; Moody, J. W.; Morozova, D. A.; Nazarov, S. V.; Nikolashvili, M. G.; Ohlert, J. M.; Panopoulou, G. V.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Pinna, F.; Protasio, C.; Rizzi, N.; Sadun, A. C.; Savchenko, S. S.; Semkov, E.; Sigua, L. A.; Slavcheva-Mihova, L.; Strigachev, A.; Tornikoski, M.; Troitskaya, Yu. V.; Troitsky, I. S.; Vasilyev, A. A.; Vera, R. J. C.; Vince, O.; Zanmar Sanchez, R. Bibcode: 2017MNRAS.466.3762R Altcode: 2016MNRAS.tmp.1569R; 2016arXiv161207000R In 2015 July 29-September 1, the satellite XMM-Newton pointed at the BL Lac object PG 1553+133 six times, collecting data for 218 h. During one of these epochs, simultaneous observations by the Swift satellite were requested to compare the results of the X-ray and optical-UV instruments. Optical, near-infrared and radio monitoring was carried out by the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) collaboration for the whole observing season. We here present the results of the analysis of all these data, together with an investigation of the source photometric and polarimetric behaviour over the last 3 yr. The 2015 EPIC spectra show slight curvature and the corresponding light curves display fast X-ray variability with a time-scale of the order of 1 h. In contrast to previous results, during the brightest X-ray states detected in 2015 the simple log-parabolic model that best fits the XMM-Newton data also reproduces reasonably well the whole synchrotron bump, suggesting a peak in the near-UV band. We found evidence of a wide rotation of the polarization angle in 2014, when the polarization degree was variable, but the flux remained almost constant. This is difficult to interpret with deterministic jet emission models, while it can be easily reproduced by assuming some turbulence of the magnetic field. Title: How to infer the Sun's global magnetic field using the Hanle effect Authors: Vieu, T.; Martínez González, M. J.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Asensio Ramos, A. Bibcode: 2017MNRAS.465.4414V Altcode: We present a different approach to determine the characteristics of the global magnetic field of the Sun based on the study of the Hanle signals. The Hanle effect of a stellar dipole produces a surface asymmetric pattern of linear polarization that depends on the strength and geometry of this global field. Moreover, if the dipole is misaligned with respect to the rotation, the Hanle signals are modulated following the rotational period. We explore the possibility to retrieve those characteristics by comparing the computed theoretical signatures with actual observations. We show that this is possible, in the case of the Sr I line of the Sun, provided that the polarimetric sensitivity is of the order or below 10-5-10-6. The inference can be done either using the maps of resolved signals, in particular the spread of values obtained along different directions on the stellar disc, or using the disc-integrated signals. Title: Filamentary Oscillations in the Penumbra of Sunspots Authors: Griñon, Ana Bélen; Pastor Yabar, A.; Socas-Navarro, H.; Centeno, R. Bibcode: 2017psio.confE.111G Altcode: 2017psio.confE.111A No abstract at ADS Title: Where are the solar magnetic poles? Authors: Pastor Yabar, Adur Bibcode: 2017psio.confE..14P Altcode: No abstract at ADS Title: Deep probing of the photospheric sunspot penumbra: no evidence of field-free gaps Authors: Borrero, J. M.; Asensio Ramos, A.; Collados, M.; Schlichenmaier, R.; Balthasar, H.; Franz, M.; Rezaei, R.; Kiess, C.; Orozco Suárez, D.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Berkefeld, T.; von der Lühe, O.; Schmidt, D.; Schmidt, W.; Sigwarth, M.; Soltau, D.; Volkmer, R.; Waldmann, T.; Denker, C.; Hofmann, A.; Staude, J.; Strassmeier, K. G.; Feller, A.; Lagg, A.; Solanki, S. K.; Sobotka, M.; Nicklas, H. Bibcode: 2016A&A...596A...2B Altcode: 2016arXiv160708165B Context. Some models for the topology of the magnetic field in sunspot penumbrae predict regions free of magnetic fields or with only dynamically weak fields in the deep photosphere.
Aims: We aim to confirm or refute the existence of weak-field regions in the deepest photospheric layers of the penumbra.
Methods: We investigated the magnetic field at log τ5 = 0 is by inverting spectropolarimetric data of two different sunspots located very close to disk center with a spatial resolution of approximately 0.4-0.45''. The data have been recorded using the GRIS instrument attached to the 1.5-m solar telescope GREGOR at the El Teide observatory. The data include three Fe I lines around 1565 nm, whose sensitivity to the magnetic field peaks half a pressure scale height deeper than the sensitivity of the widely used Fe I spectral line pair at 630 nm. Before the inversion, the data were corrected for the effects of scattered light using a deconvolution method with several point spread functions.
Results: At log τ5 = 0 we find no evidence of regions with dynamically weak (B< 500 Gauss) magnetic fields in sunspot penumbrae. This result is much more reliable than previous investigations made on Fe I lines at 630 nm. Moreover, the result is independent of the number of nodes employed in the inversion, is independent of the point spread function used to deconvolve the data, and does not depend on the amount of stray light (I.e., wide-angle scattered light) considered. Title: Spectropolarimetric observations of an arch filament system with the GREGOR solar telescope Authors: Balthasar, H.; Gömöry, P.; González Manrique, S. J.; Kuckein, C.; Kavka, J.; Kučera, A.; Schwartz, P.; Vašková, R.; Berkefeld, T.; Collados Vera, M.; Denker, C.; Feller, A.; Hofmann, A.; Lagg, A.; Nicklas, H.; Orozco Suárez, D.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Rezaei, R.; Schlichenmaier, R.; Schmidt, D.; Schmidt, W.; Sigwarth, M.; Sobotka, M.; Solanki, S. K.; Soltau, D.; Staude, J.; Strassmeier, K. G.; Volkmer, R.; von der Lühe, O.; Waldmann, T. Bibcode: 2016AN....337.1050B Altcode: 2016arXiv160901514B Arch filament systems occur in active sunspot groups, where a fibril structure connects areas of opposite magnetic polarity, in contrast to active region filaments that follow the polarity inversion line. We used the GREGOR Infrared Spectrograph (GRIS) to obtain the full Stokes vector in the spectral lines Si I λ1082.7 nm, He I λ1083.0 nm, and Ca I λ1083.9 nm. We focus on the near-infrared calcium line to investigate the photospheric magnetic field and velocities, and use the line core intensities and velocities of the helium line to study the chromospheric plasma. The individual fibrils of the arch filament system connect the sunspot with patches of magnetic polarity opposite to that of the spot. These patches do not necessarily coincide with pores, where the magnetic field is strongest. Instead, areas are preferred not far from the polarity inversion line. These areas exhibit photospheric downflows of moderate velocity, but significantly higher downflows of up to 30 km s-1 in the chromospheric helium line. Our findings can be explained with new emerging flux where the matter flows downward along the field lines of rising flux tubes, in agreement with earlier results. Title: Magnetic fields of opposite polarity in sunspot penumbrae Authors: Franz, M.; Collados, M.; Bethge, C.; Schlichenmaier, R.; Borrero, J. M.; Schmidt, W.; Lagg, A.; Solanki, S. K.; Berkefeld, T.; Kiess, C.; Rezaei, R.; Schmidt, D.; Sigwarth, M.; Soltau, D.; Volkmer, R.; von der Luhe, O.; Waldmann, T.; Orozco, D.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Denker, C.; Balthasar, H.; Staude, J.; Hofmann, A.; Strassmeier, K.; Feller, A.; Nicklas, H.; Kneer, F.; Sobotka, M. Bibcode: 2016A&A...596A...4F Altcode: 2016arXiv160800513F Context. A significant part of the penumbral magnetic field returns below the surface in the very deep photosphere. For lines in the visible, a large portion of this return field can only be detected indirectly by studying its imprints on strongly asymmetric and three-lobed Stokes V profiles. Infrared lines probe a narrow layer in the very deep photosphere, providing the possibility of directly measuring the orientation of magnetic fields close to the solar surface.
Aims: We study the topology of the penumbral magnetic field in the lower photosphere, focusing on regions where it returns below the surface.
Methods: We analyzed 71 spectropolarimetric datasets from Hinode and from the GREGOR infrared spectrograph. We inferred the quality and polarimetric accuracy of the infrared data after applying several reduction steps. Techniques of spectral inversion and forward synthesis were used to test the detection algorithm. We compared the morphology and the fractional penumbral area covered by reversed-polarity and three-lobed Stokes V profiles for sunspots at disk center. We determined the amount of reversed-polarity and three-lobed Stokes V profiles in visible and infrared data of sunspots at various heliocentric angles. From the results, we computed center-to-limb variation curves, which were interpreted in the context of existing penumbral models.
Results: Observations in visible and near-infrared spectral lines yield a significant difference in the penumbral area covered by magnetic fields of opposite polarity. In the infrared, the number of reversed-polarity Stokes V profiles is smaller by a factor of two than in the visible. For three-lobed Stokes V profiles the numbers differ by up to an order of magnitude. Title: Horizontal flow fields in and around a small active region. The transition period between flux emergence and decay Authors: Verma, M.; Denker, C.; Balthasar, H.; Kuckein, C.; González Manrique, S. J.; Sobotka, M.; Bello González, N.; Hoch, S.; Diercke, A.; Kummerow, P.; Berkefeld, T.; Collados, M.; Feller, A.; Hofmann, A.; Kneer, F.; Lagg, A.; Löhner-Böttcher, J.; Nicklas, H.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Schlichenmaier, R.; Schmidt, D.; Schmidt, W.; Schubert, M.; Sigwarth, M.; Solanki, S. K.; Soltau, D.; Staude, J.; Strassmeier, K. G.; Volkmer, R.; von der Lühe, O.; Waldmann, T. Bibcode: 2016A&A...596A...3V Altcode: 2016arXiv160507462V Context. The solar magnetic field is responsible for all aspects of solar activity. Thus, emergence of magnetic flux at the surface is the first manifestation of the ensuing solar activity.
Aims: Combining high-resolution and synoptic observations aims to provide a comprehensive description of flux emergence at photospheric level and of the growth process that eventually leads to a mature active region.
Methods: The small active region NOAA 12118 emerged on 2014 July 17 and was observed one day later with the 1.5-m GREGOR solar telescope on 2014 July 18. High-resolution time-series of blue continuum and G-band images acquired in the blue imaging channel (BIC) of the GREGOR Fabry-Pérot Interferometer (GFPI) were complemented by synoptic line-of-sight magnetograms and continuum images obtained with the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Horizontal proper motions and horizontal plasma velocities were computed with local correlation tracking (LCT) and the differential affine velocity estimator (DAVE), respectively. Morphological image processing was employed to measure the photometric and magnetic area, magnetic flux, and the separation profile of the emerging flux region during its evolution.
Results: The computed growth rates for photometric area, magnetic area, and magnetic flux are about twice as high as the respective decay rates. The space-time diagram using HMI magnetograms of five days provides a comprehensive view of growth and decay. It traces a leaf-like structure, which is determined by the initial separation of the two polarities, a rapid expansion phase, a time when the spread stalls, and a period when the region slowly shrinks again. The separation rate of 0.26 km s-1 is highest in the initial stage, and it decreases when the separation comes to a halt. Horizontal plasma velocities computed at four evolutionary stages indicate a changing pattern of inflows. In LCT maps we find persistent flow patterns such as outward motions in the outer part of the two major pores, a diverging feature near the trailing pore marking the site of upwelling plasma and flux emergence, and low velocities in the interior of dark pores. We detected many elongated rapidly expanding granules between the two major polarities, with dimensions twice as large as the normal granules. Title: Upper chromospheric magnetic field of a sunspot penumbra: observations of fine structure Authors: Joshi, J.; Lagg, A.; Solanki, S. K.; Feller, A.; Collados, M.; Orozco Suárez, D.; Schlichenmaier, R.; Franz, M.; Balthasar, H.; Denker, C.; Berkefeld, T.; Hofmann, A.; Kiess, C.; Nicklas, H.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Rezaei, R.; Schmidt, D.; Schmidt, W.; Sobotka, M.; Soltau, D.; Staude, J.; Strassmeier, K. G.; Volkmer, R.; von der Lühe, O.; Waldmann, T. Bibcode: 2016A&A...596A...8J Altcode: 2016arXiv160801988J
Aims: The fine-structure of the magnetic field in a sunspot penumbra in the upper chromosphere is to be explored and compared to that in the photosphere.
Methods: Spectropolarimetric observations with high spatial resolution were recorded with the 1.5-m GREGOR telescope using the GREGOR Infrared Spectrograph (GRIS). The observed spectral domain includes the upper chromospheric Hei triplet at 10 830 Å and the photospheric Sii 10 827.1 Å and Cai 10 833.4 Å spectral lines. The upper chromospheric magnetic field is obtained by inverting the Hei triplet assuming a Milne-Eddington-type model atmosphere. A height-dependent inversion was applied to the Sii 10 827.1 Å and Cai 10 833.4 Å lines to obtain the photospheric magnetic field.
Results: We find that the inclination of the magnetic field varies in the azimuthal direction in the photosphere and in the upper chromosphere. The chromospheric variations coincide remarkably well with the variations in the inclination of the photospheric field and resemble the well-known spine and interspine structure in the photospheric layers of penumbrae. The typical peak-to-peak variations in the inclination of the magnetic field in the upper chromosphere are found to be 10°-15°, which is roughly half the variation in the photosphere. In contrast, the magnetic field strength of the observed penumbra does not vary on small spatial scales in the upper chromosphere.
Conclusions: Thanks to the high spatial resolution of the observations that is possible with the GREGOR telescope at 1.08 microns, we find that the prominent small-scale fluctuations in the magnetic field inclination, which are a salient part of the property of sunspot penumbral photospheres, also persist in the chromosphere, although at somewhat reduced amplitudes. Such a complex magnetic configuration may facilitate penumbral chromospheric dynamic phenomena, such as penumbral micro-jets or transient bright dots. Title: Probing deep photospheric layers of the quiet Sun with high magnetic sensitivity Authors: Lagg, A.; Solanki, S. K.; Doerr, H. -P.; Martínez González, M. J.; Riethmüller, T.; Collados Vera, M.; Schlichenmaier, R.; Orozco Suárez, D.; Franz, M.; Feller, A.; Kuckein, C.; Schmidt, W.; Asensio Ramos, A.; Pastor Yabar, A.; von der Lühe, O.; Denker, C.; Balthasar, H.; Volkmer, R.; Staude, J.; Hofmann, A.; Strassmeier, K.; Kneer, F.; Waldmann, T.; Borrero, J. M.; Sobotka, M.; Verma, M.; Louis, R. E.; Rezaei, R.; Soltau, D.; Berkefeld, T.; Sigwarth, M.; Schmidt, D.; Kiess, C.; Nicklas, H. Bibcode: 2016A&A...596A...6L Altcode: 2016arXiv160506324L Context. Investigations of the magnetism of the quiet Sun are hindered by extremely weak polarization signals in Fraunhofer spectral lines. Photon noise, straylight, and the systematically different sensitivity of the Zeeman effect to longitudinal and transversal magnetic fields result in controversial results in terms of the strength and angular distribution of the magnetic field vector.
Aims: The information content of Stokes measurements close to the diffraction limit of the 1.5 m GREGOR telescope is analyzed. We took the effects of spatial straylight and photon noise into account.
Methods: Highly sensitive full Stokes measurements of a quiet-Sun region at disk center in the deep photospheric Fe I lines in the 1.56 μm region were obtained with the infrared spectropolarimeter GRIS at the GREGOR telescope. Noise statistics and Stokes V asymmetries were analyzed and compared to a similar data set of the Hinode spectropolarimeter (SOT/SP). Simple diagnostics based directly on the shape and strength of the profiles were applied to the GRIS data. We made use of the magnetic line ratio technique, which was tested against realistic magneto-hydrodynamic simulations (MURaM).
Results: About 80% of the GRIS spectra of a very quiet solar region show polarimetric signals above a 3σ level. Area and amplitude asymmetries agree well with small-scale surface dynamo-magneto hydrodynamic simulations. The magnetic line ratio analysis reveals ubiquitous magnetic regions in the ten to hundred Gauss range with some concentrations of kilo-Gauss fields.
Conclusions: The GRIS spectropolarimetric data at a spatial resolution of ≈0.̋4 are so far unique in the combination of high spatial resolution scans and high magnetic field sensitivity. Nevertheless, the unavoidable effect of spatial straylight and the resulting dilution of the weak Stokes profiles means that inversion techniques still bear a high risk of misinterpretating the data. Title: Three-dimensional structure of a sunspot light bridge Authors: Felipe, T.; Collados, M.; Khomenko, E.; Kuckein, C.; Asensio Ramos, A.; Balthasar, H.; Berkefeld, T.; Denker, C.; Feller, A.; Franz, M.; Hofmann, A.; Joshi, J.; Kiess, C.; Lagg, A.; Nicklas, H.; Orozco Suárez, D.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Rezaei, R.; Schlichenmaier, R.; Schmidt, D.; Schmidt, W.; Sigwarth, M.; Sobotka, M.; Solanki, S. K.; Soltau, D.; Staude, J.; Strassmeier, K. G.; Volkmer, R.; von der Lühe, O.; Waldmann, T. Bibcode: 2016A&A...596A..59F Altcode: 2016arXiv161104803F Context. Active regions are the most prominent manifestations of solar magnetic fields; their generation and dissipation are fundamental problems in solar physics. Light bridges are commonly present during sunspot decay, but a comprehensive picture of their role in the removal of the photospheric magnetic field is still lacking.
Aims: We study the three-dimensional configuration of a sunspot, and in particular, its light bridge, during one of the last stages of its decay.
Methods: We present the magnetic and thermodynamical stratification inferred from full Stokes inversions of the photospheric Si I 10 827 Å and Ca I 10 839 Å lines obtained with the GREGOR Infrared Spectrograph of the GREGOR telescope at the Observatorio del Teide, Tenerife, Spain. The analysis is complemented by a study of continuum images covering the disk passage of the active region, which are provided by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory.
Results: The sunspot shows a light bridge with penumbral continuum intensity that separates the central umbra from a smaller umbra. We find that in this region the magnetic field lines form a canopy with lower magnetic field strength in the inner part. The photospheric light bridge is dominated by gas pressure (high-β), as opposed to the surrounding umbra, where the magnetic pressure is higher. A convective flow is observed in the light bridge. This flow is able to bend the magnetic field lines and to produce field reversals. The field lines merge above the light bridge and become as vertical and strong as in the surrounding umbra. We conclude that this occurs because two highly magnetized regions approach each other during the sunspot evolution.

Movies associated to Figs. 2 and 13 are available at http://www.aanda.org Title: Inference of magnetic fields in the very quiet Sun Authors: Martínez González, M. J.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Lagg, A.; Asensio Ramos, A.; Collados, M.; Solanki, S. K.; Balthasar, H.; Berkefeld, T.; Denker, C.; Doerr, H. P.; Feller, A.; Franz, M.; González Manrique, S. J.; Hofmann, A.; Kneer, F.; Kuckein, C.; Louis, R.; von der Lühe, O.; Nicklas, H.; Orozco, D.; Rezaei, R.; Schlichenmaier, R.; Schmidt, D.; Schmidt, W.; Sigwarth, M.; Sobotka, M.; Soltau, D.; Staude, J.; Strassmeier, K. G.; Verma, M.; Waldman, T.; Volkmer, R. Bibcode: 2016A&A...596A...5M Altcode: 2018arXiv180410089M Context. Over the past 20 yr, the quietest areas of the solar surface have revealed a weak but extremely dynamic magnetism occurring at small scales (<500 km), which may provide an important contribution to the dynamics and energetics of the outer layers of the atmosphere. Understanding this magnetism requires the inference of physical quantities from high-sensitivity spectro-polarimetric data with high spatio-temporal resolution.
Aims: We present high-precision spectro-polarimetric data with high spatial resolution (0.4'') of the very quiet Sun at 1.56 μm obtained with the GREGOR telescope to shed some light on this complex magnetism.
Methods: We used inversion techniques in two main approaches. First, we assumed that the observed profiles can be reproduced with a constant magnetic field atmosphere embedded in a field-free medium. Second, we assumed that the resolution element has a substructure with either two constant magnetic atmospheres or a single magnetic atmosphere with gradients of the physical quantities along the optical depth, both coexisting with a global stray-light component.
Results: Half of our observed quiet-Sun region is better explained by magnetic substructure within the resolution element. However, we cannot distinguish whether this substructure comes from gradients of the physical parameters along the line of sight or from horizontal gradients (across the surface). In these pixels, a model with two magnetic components is preferred, and we find two distinct magnetic field populations. The population with the larger filling factor has very weak ( 150 G) horizontal fields similar to those obtained in previous works. We demonstrate that the field vector of this population is not constrained by the observations, given the spatial resolution and polarimetric accuracy of our data. The topology of the other component with the smaller filling factor is constrained by the observations for field strengths above 250 G: we infer hG fields with inclinations and azimuth values compatible with an isotropic distribution. The filling factors are typically below 30%. We also find that the flux of the two polarities is not balanced. From the other half of the observed quiet-Sun area 50% are two-lobed Stokes V profiles, meaning that 23% of the field of view can be adequately explained with a single constant magnetic field embedded in a non-magnetic atmosphere. The magnetic field vector and filling factor are reliable inferred in only 50% based on the regular profiles. Therefore, 12% of the field of view harbour hG fields with filling factors typically below 30%. At our present spatial resolution, 70% of the pixels apparently are non-magnetised. Title: Fitting peculiar spectral profiles in He I 10830Å absorption features Authors: González Manrique, S. J.; Kuckein, C.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Collados, M.; Denker, C.; Fischer, C. E.; Gömöry, P.; Diercke, A.; Bello González, N.; Schlichenmaier, R.; Balthasar, H.; Berkefeld, T.; Feller, A.; Hoch, S.; Hofmann, A.; Kneer, F.; Lagg, A.; Nicklas, H.; Orozco Suárez, D.; Schmidt, D.; Schmidt, W.; Sigwarth, M.; Sobotka, M.; Solanki, S. K.; Soltau, D.; Staude, J.; Strassmeier, K. G.; Verma, M.; Volkmer, R.; von der Lühe, O.; Waldmann, T. Bibcode: 2016AN....337.1057G Altcode: 2016arXiv160300679G The new generation of solar instruments provides better spectral, spatial, and temporal resolution for a better understanding of the physical processes that take place on the Sun. Multiple-component profiles are more commonly observed with these instruments. Particularly, the He I 10830 Å triplet presents such peculiar spectral profiles, which give information on the velocity and magnetic fine structure of the upper chromosphere. The purpose of this investigation is to describe a technique to efficiently fit the two blended components of the He I 10830 Å triplet, which are commonly observed when two atmospheric components are located within the same resolution element. The observations used in this study were taken on 2015 April 17 with the very fast spectroscopic mode of the GREGOR Infrared Spectrograph (GRIS) attached to the 1.5-m GREGOR solar telescope, located at the Observatorio del Teide, Tenerife, Spain. We apply a double-Lorentzian fitting technique using Levenberg-Marquardt least-squares minimization. This technique is very simple and much faster than inversion codes. Line-of-sight Doppler velocities can be inferred for a whole map of pixels within just a few minutes. Our results show sub- and supersonic downflow velocities of up to 32 km s-1 for the fast component in the vicinity of footpoints of filamentary structures. The slow component presents velocities close to rest. Title: Inversion of Stokes profiles with systematic effects Authors: Asensio Ramos, A.; de la Cruz Rodríguez, J.; Martínez González, M. J.; Pastor Yabar, A. Bibcode: 2016A&A...590A..87A Altcode: 2016arXiv160405470A Quantitative thermodynamical, dynamical and magnetic properties of the solar and stellar plasmas are obtained by interpreting their emergent non-polarized and polarized spectrum. This inference requires the selection of a set of spectral lines that are particularly sensitive to the physical conditions in the plasma and a suitable parametric model of the solar/stellar atmosphere. Nonlinear inversion codes are then used to fit the model to the observations. However, the presence of systematic effects, like nearby or blended spectral lines, telluric absorption, or incorrect correction of the continuum, among others, can strongly affect the results. We present an extension to current inversion codes that can deal with these effects in a transparent way. The resulting algorithm is very simple and can be applied to any existing inversion code with the addition of a few lines of code as an extra step in each iteration. Title: Flows in and around Active Region NOAA12118 Observed with the GREGOR Solar Telescope and SDO/HMI Authors: Verma, M.; Denker, C.; Balthasar, H.; Kuckein, C.; González Manrique, S. J.; Sobotka, M.; Bello González, N.; Hoch, S.; Diercke, A.; Kummerow, P.; Berkefeld, T.; Collados, M.; Feller, A.; Hofmann, A.; Kneer, F.; Lagg, A.; Löhner-Böttcher, J.; Nicklas, H.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Schlichenmaier, R.; Schmidt, D.; Schmidt, W.; Schubert, M.; Sigwarth, M.; Solanki, S. K.; Soltau, D.; Staude, J.; Strassmeier, K.; Volkmer, R.; von der Lühe, O.; Waldmann, T. Bibcode: 2016ASPC..504...29V Altcode: 2016arXiv160301109V Accurate measurements of magnetic and velocity fields in and around solar active regions are key to unlocking the mysteries of the formation and the decay of sunspots. High spatial resolution images and spectral sequences with a high cadence obtained with the GREGOR solar telescope give us an opportunity to scrutinize 3-D flow fields with local correlation tracking and imaging spectroscopy. We present GREGOR early science data acquired in 2014 July - August with the GREGOR Fabry-Pérot Interferometer and the Blue Imaging Channel. Time-series of blue continuum (λ 450.6 nm) images of the small active region NOAA 12118 were restored with the speckle masking technique to derive horizontal proper motions and to track the evolution of morphological changes. In addition, high-resolution observations are discussed in the context of synoptic data from the Solar Dynamics Observatory. Title: The WEBT campaign on the BL Lac object PG 1553+113 in 2013. An analysis of the enigmatic synchrotron emission Authors: Raiteri, C. M.; Stamerra, A.; Villata, M.; Larionov, V. M.; Acosta-Pulido, J. A.; Arévalo, M. J.; Arkharov, A. A.; Bachev, R.; Benítez, E.; Bozhilov, V. V.; Borman, G. A.; Buemi, C. S.; Calcidese, P.; Carnerero, M. I.; Carosati, D.; Chigladze, R. A.; Damljanovic, G.; Di Paola, A.; Doroshenko, V. T.; Efimova, N. V.; Ehgamberdiev, Sh. A.; Giroletti, M.; González-Morales, P. A.; Grinon-Marin, A. B.; Grishina, T. S.; Hiriart, D.; Ibryamov, S.; Klimanov, S. A.; Kopatskaya, E. N.; Kurtanidze, O. M.; Kurtanidze, S. O.; Kurtenkov, A. A.; Larionova, L. V.; Larionova, E. G.; Lázaro, C.; Lähteenmäki, A.; Leto, P.; Markovic, G.; Mirzaqulov, D. O.; Mokrushina, A. A.; Morozova, D. A.; Mújica, R.; Nazarov, S. V.; Nikolashvili, M. G.; Ohlert, J. M.; Ovcharov, E. P.; Paiano, S.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Prandini, E.; Ramakrishnan, V.; Sadun, A. C.; Semkov, E.; Sigua, L. A.; Strigachev, A.; Tammi, J.; Tornikoski, M.; Trigilio, C.; Troitskaya, Yu. V.; Troitsky, I. S.; Umana, G.; Velasco, S.; Vince, O. Bibcode: 2015MNRAS.454..353R Altcode: 2015arXiv150902706R A multifrequency campaign on the BL Lac object PG 1553+113 was organized by the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) in 2013 April-August, involving 19 optical, two near-IR, and three radio telescopes. The aim was to study the source behaviour at low energies during and around the high-energy observations by the Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov telescopes in April-July. We also analyse the UV and X-ray data acquired by the Swift and XMM-Newton satellites in the same period. The WEBT and satellite observations allow us to detail the synchrotron emission bump in the source spectral energy distribution (SED). In the optical, we found a general bluer-when-brighter trend. The X-ray spectrum remained stable during 2013, but a comparison with previous observations suggests that it becomes harder when the X-ray flux increases. The long XMM-Newton exposure reveals a curved X-ray spectrum. In the SED, the XMM-Newton data show a hard near-UV spectrum, while Swift data display a softer shape that is confirmed by previous Hubble Space Telescope/Cosmic Origins Spectrograph and International Ultraviolet Explorer observations. Polynomial fits to the optical-X-ray SED show that the synchrotron peak likely lies in the 4-30 eV energy range, with a general shift towards higher frequencies for increasing X-ray brightness. However, the UV and X-ray spectra do not connect smoothly. Possible interpretations include: (i) orientation effects, (ii) additional absorption, (iii) multiple emission components, and (iv) a peculiar energy distribution of relativistic electrons. We discuss the first possibility in terms of an inhomogeneous helical jet model. Title: Where are the solar magnetic poles? Authors: Pastor Yabar, A.; Martinez Gonzalez, M. J.; Collados, M. Bibcode: 2015MNRAS.453L..69P Altcode: 2018arXiv180409748P Regardless of the physical origin of stellar magnetic fields - fossil or dynamo induced - an inclination angle between the magnetic and rotation axes is very often observed. Absence of observational evidence in this direction in the solar case has led to generally assume that its global magnetic field and rotation axes are well aligned. We present the detection of a monthly periodic signal of the photospheric solar magnetic field at all latitudes, and especially near the poles, revealing that the main axis of the Sun's magnetic field is not aligned with the surface rotation axis. This result reinforces the view of our Sun as a common intermediate-mass star. Furthermore, this detection challenges and imposes a strong observational constraint to modern solar dynamo theories. Title: Multiwavelength behaviour of the blazar OJ 248 from radio to γ-rays Authors: Carnerero, M. I.; Raiteri, C. M.; Villata, M.; Acosta-Pulido, J. A.; D'Ammando, F.; Smith, P. S.; Larionov, V. M.; Agudo, I.; Arévalo, M. J.; Arkharov, A. A.; Bach, U.; Bachev, R.; Benítez, E.; Blinov, D. A.; Bozhilov, V.; Buemi, C. S.; Bueno Bueno, A.; Carosati, D.; Casadio, C.; Chen, W. P.; Damljanovic, G.; di Paola, A.; Efimova, N. V.; Ehgamberdiev, Sh. A.; Giroletti, M.; Gómez, J. L.; González-Morales, P. A.; Grinon-Marin, A. B.; Grishina, T. S.; Gurwell, M. A.; Hiriart, D.; Hsiao, H. Y.; Ibryamov, S.; Jorstad, S. G.; Joshi, M.; Kopatskaya, E. N.; Kurtanidze, O. M.; Kurtanidze, S. O.; Lähteenmäki, A.; Larionova, E. G.; Larionova, L. V.; Lázaro, C.; Leto, P.; Lin, C. S.; Lin, H. C.; Manilla-Robles, A. I.; Marscher, A. P.; McHardy, I. M.; Metodieva, Y.; Mirzaqulov, D. O.; Mokrushina, A. A.; Molina, S. N.; Morozova, D. A.; Nikolashvili, M. G.; Orienti, M.; Ovcharov, E.; Panwar, N.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Puerto Giménez, I.; Ramakrishnan, V.; Richter, G. M.; Rossini, M.; Sigua, L. A.; Strigachev, A.; Taylor, B.; Tornikoski, M.; Trigilio, C.; Troitskaya, Yu. V.; Troitsky, I. S.; Umana, G.; Valcheva, A.; Velasco, S.; Vince, O.; Wehrle, A. E.; Wiesemeyer, H. Bibcode: 2015MNRAS.450.2677C Altcode: 2015arXiv150500916C We present an analysis of the multiwavelength behaviour of the blazar OJ 248 at z = 0.939 in the period 2006-2013. We use low-energy data (optical, near-infrared, and radio) obtained by 21 observatories participating in the Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST)-AGILE Support Program of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope, as well as data from the Swift (optical-UV and X-rays) and Fermi (γ-rays) satellites, to study flux and spectral variability and correlations among emissions in different bands. We take into account the effect of absorption by the Damped Lyman α intervening system at z = 0.525. Two major outbursts were observed in 2006-2007 and in 2012-2013 at optical and near-IR wavelengths, while in the high-frequency radio light curves prominent radio outbursts are visible peaking at the end of 2010 and beginning of 2013, revealing a complex radio-optical correlation. Cross-correlation analysis suggests a delay of the optical variations after the γ-ray ones of about a month, which is a peculiar behaviour in blazars. We also analyse optical polarimetric and spectroscopic data. The average polarization percentage P is less than 3 per cent, but it reaches ∼19 per cent during the early stage of the 2012-2013 outburst. A vague correlation of P with brightness is observed. There is no preferred electric vector polarization angle and during the outburst the linear polarization vector shows wide rotations in both directions, suggesting a complex behaviour/structure of the jet and possible turbulence. The analysis of 140 optical spectra acquired at the Steward Observatory reveals a strong Mg II broad emission line with an essentially stable flux of 6.2 × 10- 15 erg cm- 2 s- 1 and a full width at half-maximum of 2053 km s- 1. Title: Infrared properties of blazars: putting the GASP-WEBT sources into context Authors: Raiteri, C. M.; Villata, M.; Carnerero, M. I.; Acosta-Pulido, J. A.; Larionov, V. M.; D'Ammando, F.; Arévalo, M. J.; Arkharov, A. A.; Bueno Bueno, A.; Di Paola, A.; Efimova, N. V.; González-Morales, P. A.; Gorshanov, D. L.; Grinon-Marin, A. B.; Lázaro, C.; Manilla-Robles, A.; Pastor Yabar, A.; Puerto Giménez, I.; Velasco, S. Bibcode: 2014MNRAS.442..629R Altcode: 2014arXiv1405.4168R The infrared properties of blazars can be studied from the statistical point of view with the help of sky surveys, like that provided by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer and the Two Micron All Sky Survey. However, these sources are known for their strong and unpredictable variability, which can be monitored for a handful of objects only. In this paper, we consider the 28 blazars (14 BL Lac objects and 14 flat-spectrum radio quasars, FSRQs) that are regularly monitored by the GLAST-AGILE Support Program (GASP) of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope since 2007. They show a variety of infrared colours, redshifts, and infrared-optical spectral energy distributions (SEDs), and thus represent an interesting mini-sample of bright blazars that can be investigated in more detail. We present near-IR light curves and colours obtained by the GASP from 2007 to 2013, and discuss the infrared-optical SEDs. These are analysed with the aim of understanding the interplay among different emission components. BL Lac SEDs are accounted for by synchrotron emission plus an important contribution from the host galaxy in the closest objects, and dust signatures in 3C 66A and Mrk 421. FSRQ SEDs require synchrotron emission with the addition of a quasar-like contribution, which includes radiation from a generally bright accretion disc (νLν up to ∼4 × 1046 erg s-1), broad-line region, and a relatively weak dust torus.