HINODE Observations of Chromospheric Brightenings in the Ca II H Line during small-scale Flux Emergence Events

Abstract

\ion{Ca}{2} H emission is a well-known indicator of magnetic activity in the Sun and other stars. It is also viewed as an important signature of chromospheric heating. However, the \ion{Ca}{2} H line has not been used as a diagnostic of magnetic flux emergence from the solar interior. Here we report on Hinode observations of chromospheric \ion{Ca}{2} H brightenings associated with a repeated, small-scale flux emergence event. We describe this process and investigate the evolution of the magnetic flux, G-band brightness, and \ion{Ca}{2} H intensity in the emerging region. Our results suggest that energy is released in the chromosphere as a consequence of interactions between the emerging flux and the pre-existing magnetic field, in agreement with recent 3D numerical simulations.

12 Pages, 6 Figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters

References in corpus (3)

• The Solar Optical Telescope for the Hinode Mission: An Overview
• Jets in coronal holes: Hinode observations and 3D computer modelling
• The effect of the relative orientation between the coronal field and new emerging flux: I Global Properties

Cited by in corpus (8)

• Small-Scale Structuring Of Ellerman Bombs at Solar Limb
• Radiating Current Sheets in the Solar Chromosphere
• IRIS observations of magnetic interactions in the solar atmosphere between pre-existing and emerging magnetic fields. II. UV emission properties
• The magnetic structure of surges in small-scale emerging flux regions
• Emergence of small-scale magnetic flux in the quiet Sun
• Chromospheric signatures of small-scale flux emergence as observed with NST and Hinode instruments
• Atmospheric Response to of an Active Region to new Small Flux Emergence
• Emergence of internetwork magnetic fields through the solar atmosphere