Magnetic diffusion in solar atmosphere produces measurable electric fields

Autor: Tetsu Anan, Roberto Casini, Han Uitenbroek, Thomas A. Schad, Hector Socas-Navarro, Kiyoshi Ichimoto, Sarah A. Jaeggli, Sanjiv K. Tiwari, Jeffrey W. Reep, Yukio Katsukawa, Ayumi Asai, Jiong Qiu, Kevin P. Reardon, Alexandra Tritschler, Friedrich Wöger, Thomas R. Rimmele
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Nature Communications, Vol 15, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2041-1723
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53102-x
Popis: Abstract The efficient release of magnetic energy in astrophysical plasmas, such as during solar flares, can in principle be achieved through magnetic diffusion, at a rate determined by the associated electric field. However, attempts at measuring electric fields in the solar atmosphere are scarce, and none exist for sites where the magnetic energy is presumably released. Here, we present observations of an energetic event using the National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, where we detect the polarization signature of electric fields associated with magnetic diffusion. We measure the linear and circular polarization across the hydrogen Hε Balmer line at 397 nm at the site of a brightening event in the solar chromosphere. Our spectro-polarimetric modeling demonstrates that the observed polarization signals can only be explained by the presence of electric fields, providing conclusive evidence of magnetic diffusion, and opening a new window for the quantitative study of this mechanism in space plasmas.
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