Magnetic diffusion in solar atmosphere produces measurable electric fields

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...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature communications 2024-10, Vol.15 (1), p.8811-9, Article 8811
Main Authors: Anan, Tetsu, Casini, Roberto, Uitenbroek, Han, Schad, Thomas A., Socas-Navarro, Hector, Ichimoto, Kiyoshi, Jaeggli, Sarah A., Tiwari, Sanjiv K., Reep, Jeffrey W., Katsukawa, Yukio, Asai, Ayumi, Qiu, Jiong, Reardon, Kevin P., Tritschler, Alexandra, Wöger, Friedrich, Rimmele, Thomas R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
639/766/1960/1134
704/525/870
Atmosphere
Brightening
Chromosphere
Circular polarization
Diffusion
Diffusion rate
Electric fields
Humanities and Social Sciences
Magnetic diffusion
Magnetic fields
multidisciplinary
Polarization
Quantitative research
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Solar atmosphere
Solar flares
Solar magnetic field
Space plasmas
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary: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. Electric fields in the solar atmosphere are not studied as widely as the magnetic fields mainly due to small, short living signals. Here, the authors show measurement of an electric field associated with magnetic diffusion triggering an energetic event in the solar atmosphere.
ISSN:2041-1723
2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/s41467-024-53102-x