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 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.
Authors
- K. Reardon
- A. Tritschler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3147-8026)
- Jeffrey W. Reep (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4739-1152)
- H. Socas‐Navarro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9896-4622)
- Tetsu Anan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6824-1108)
- Kiyoshi Ichimoto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8689-3564)
- Jiong Qiu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2797-744X)
- Sarah A. Jaeggli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5459-2628)
- Ayumi Asai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5279-686X)
- H. Uitenbroek (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2554-1351)
- R. Casini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6990-513X)
- Yukio Katsukawa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5054-8782)
- Thomas Rimmelé (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7213-9787)
- Thomas A. Schad (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7451-9804)
- Sanjiv K. Tiwari (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7817-2978)
- Friedrich Wöger
Institutions
- NSF NCAR High Altitude Observatory (US)
- University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (US)
- Lockheed Martin (United States) (US)
- University of Hawaii System (US)
- Ritsumeikan University (JP)
- Universidad de La Laguna (ES)
- University of Colorado Boulder (US)
- Kyoto University (JP)
- Montana State University (US)
- NASA Research Park (US)
- National Solar Observatory (US)
- Bay Area Environmental Research Institute (US)
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (ES)
- National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2024-10-11
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-53102-x
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.66
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science