Solar Intranetwork Magnetic Elements: Flux Distributions

• Published in: Solar physics Vol. 283; no. 2; pp. 273 - 282
• Main Authors: Zhou, Guiping, Wang, Jingxiu, Jin, Chunlan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.04.2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Atmospheric Sciences; Fluctuations; Magnetic fields; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Solar physics; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Sun; Magnetic fields; Photosphere
• ISSN: 0038-0938; 1573-093X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11207-013-0229-4

The current study aims at quantifying the flux distributions of solar intranetwork (IN) magnetic field based on the data taken in four quiet and two enhanced network areas with the Narrow-band Filter Imager of the Solar Optical Telescope on board the Hinode satellite. More than 14000 IN elements and 3000 NT elements were visually identified. They exhibit a flux distribution function with a peak at 1 – 3×10 16  Mx (maxwell) and 2 – 3×10 17  Mx, respectively. We found that the IN elements contribute approximately to 52 % of the total flux and an average flux density of 12.4 gauss of the quiet region at any given time. By taking the lifetime of IN elements of about 3 min (Zhou et al. , Solar Phys. 267 , 63, 2010 ) into account, the IN fields are estimated to have total contributions to the solar magnetic flux up to 3.8×10 26 Mx per day. No fundamental distinction can be identified in IN fields between the quiet and enhanced network areas.