Files in this item
Dynamic properties of bright points in an active region
Item metadata
dc.contributor.author | Keys, P.H. | |
dc.contributor.author | Mathioudakis, M. | |
dc.contributor.author | Jess, D.B. | |
dc.contributor.author | MacKay, D.H. | |
dc.contributor.author | Keenan, F.P. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2014-08-27T16:01:02Z | |
dc.date.available | 2014-08-27T16:01:02Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2014-06-20 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Keys , P H , Mathioudakis , M , Jess , D B , MacKay , D H & Keenan , F P 2014 , ' Dynamic properties of bright points in an active region ' , Astronomy & Astrophysics , vol. 566 , A99 . https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201322987 | en |
dc.identifier.issn | 0004-6361 | |
dc.identifier.other | PURE: 143764737 | |
dc.identifier.other | PURE UUID: 3b200deb-92fc-4012-afaa-9286afb0ed86 | |
dc.identifier.other | Scopus: 84902958725 | |
dc.identifier.other | ORCID: /0000-0001-6065-8531/work/58055451 | |
dc.identifier.other | WOS: 000338681500052 | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10023/5264 | |
dc.description | This work has been supported by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). Observations were obtained at the National Solar Observatory, operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA), under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. D.B.J. would like to thank the STFC for an Ernest Rutherford Fellowship. We are also grateful for support sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Air Force Material Command, USAF under grant number FA8655-09-13085. | en |
dc.description.abstract | Context. Bright points (BPs) are small-scale, magnetic features ubiquitous across the solar surface. Previously, we have observed and noted their properties for quiet Sun regions. Here, we determine the dynamic properties of BPs using simultaneous quiet Sun and active region data. Aims. The aim of this paper is to compare the properties of BPs in both active and quiet Sun regions and to determine any difference in the dynamics and general properties of BPs as a result of the varying magnetic activity within these two regions. Methods. High spatial and temporal resolution G-band observations of active region AR11372 were obtained with the Rapid Oscillations in the Solar Atmosphere instrument at the Dunn Solar Telescope. Three subfields of varying polarity and magnetic flux density were selected with the aid of magnetograms obtained from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory. Bright points within these subfields were subsequently tracked and analysed. Results. It is found that BPs within active regions display attenuated velocity distributions with an average horizontal velocity of ∼0.6 km s-1, compared to the quiet region which had an average velocity of 0.9 km s-1. Active region BPs are also ∼21% larger than quiet region BPs and have longer average lifetimes (∼132 s) than their quiet region counterparts (88 s). No preferential flow directions are observed within the active region subfields. The diffusion index (γ) is estimated at ∼1.2 for the three regions. Conclusions. We confirm that the dynamic properties of BPs arise predominately from convective motions. The presence of stronger field strengths within active regions is the likely reason behind the varying properties observed. We believe that larger amounts of magnetic flux will attenuate BP velocities by a combination of restricting motion within the intergranular lanes and by increasing the number of stagnation points produced by inhibited convection. Larger BPs are found in regions of higher magnetic flux density and we believe that lifetimes increase in active regions as the magnetic flux stabilises the BPs. | |
dc.format.extent | 8 | |
dc.language.iso | eng | |
dc.relation.ispartof | Astronomy & Astrophysics | en |
dc.rights | © ESO, 2014 | en |
dc.subject | Sun: activity | en |
dc.subject | Sun: magnetic fields | en |
dc.subject | Sun: photosphere | en |
dc.subject | QB Astronomy | en |
dc.subject.lcc | QB | en |
dc.title | Dynamic properties of bright points in an active region | en |
dc.type | Journal article | en |
dc.contributor.sponsor | Science & Technology Facilities Council | en |
dc.description.version | Publisher PDF | en |
dc.contributor.institution | University of St Andrews. Applied Mathematics | en |
dc.identifier.doi | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201322987 | |
dc.description.status | Peer reviewed | en |
dc.identifier.url | http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84902958725&partnerID=8YFLogxK | en |
dc.identifier.grantnumber | ST/K000950/1 | en |
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
Items in the St Andrews Research Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.