Magnetograph in APOD 30 August 2006

[tommikepat]

How can you 'photograph' the magnetic field status of a sunspot?

[harry]

Hello tommikepat


I had these images of different ways to take the photo of a sunspot.

Light Bridges on the Sun
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap000522.html

Islands in the Photosphere
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap031025.html


Sunspot Loops in Ultraviolet
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap041010.html

Sunspot Metamorphosis: From Bottom to Top
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap050216.html

Sunspot 875 Flares
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060502.html

Sunspots: Magnetic Depressions
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970113.html

Follow The Spots
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap991021.html


The Sun Spews X-rays
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap951004.html


To take these photos,,,,,,,,,,,,they use a heavy filament to control the amount of light or an image on a backdrop.

[Qev]

As I understand it, the orientation of the local magnetic field on the surface of the Sun changes how electrons there behave. Due to these differences, when these electrons emit light, areas with differing magnetic fields will show differences in the separation of spectral lines (Zeeman splitting) as well as differing degrees of polarization. Using a spectrograph and a polarizing filter, you can then determine the strength and orientation of the magnetic field in a given spot.

[tommikepat]

Thank you, Qev. But could you find a notch filter with a narrow enough bandpass to take advantage of the Zeeman splitting? The polarization difference would be far easier to exploit in an image format.

By the way, how'd you know about that 'other dog' my wife doesn't want?

tommikepat