Penumbral models in the light of Hinode spectropolarimetric observations

Abstract

The realism of current models of the penumbra is assessed by comparing their predictions with the plasma properties of penumbral filaments as retrieved from spectropolarimetric observations. The spectropolarimeter onboard Hinode allows us to distinguish for the first time the fine structure of the penumbra. Therefore, we can use one-component inversions to obtain the stratifications of plasma parameters in each pixel. The correlations between the plasma parameters and the continuum intensity are studied. We find that, in the outer penumbra, the stronger flows and higher values of magnetic field inclination tend to be located in dark filaments. This finding does not seem to be compatible with the scenario of a field-free gappy penumbra.

arXiv comment4 pages, 4 figures, A&A Letter, accepted

References in corpus (4)

• Fine structure, magnetic field and heating of sunspot penumbrae
• On the fine structure of the sunspot penumbrae. III The vertical extension of penumbral filaments
• The Analysis of Penumbral Fine Structure Using an Advanced Inversion Technique
• The Evershed effect observed with 0.2 arsec angular resolution

Cited by in corpus (9)

• Magnetic Structure of Sunspots
• Inversion of the radiative transfer equation for polarized light
• Modeling the Subsurface Structure of Sunspots
• Evidence of convective rolls in a sunspot penumbra
• A geometrical height scale for sunspot penumbrae
• Sunspots: from small-scale inhomogeneities towards a global theory
• Rapid Transition of Uncombed Penumbrae to Faculae during Large Flares
• The Evershed Flow and the Brightness of the Penumbra
• Theoretical Models of Sunspot Structure and Dynamics