Low-lying magnetic loops in the solar internetwork

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic field structure in the solar internetwork, revealing numerous short, low-lying loops connecting opposite polarities and suggesting a dynamic flux emergence process.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of small-scale magnetic loops in the internetwork using spectropolarimetric inversions, highlighting their prevalence and dynamic nature.

Findings

Many opposite polarity elements are connected by short, low-lying loops.

These loops account for 10-20% of the internetwork flux.

Evidence suggests flux emergence drives the magnetic dynamics.

Abstract

The aim of this work is to study the structure of the magnetic field vector in the internetwork and search for the presence of small-scale loops. We invert 1.56 micron spectropolarimetric observations of internetwork regions at disc centre by applying the SIR code. This allows us to recover the atmospheric parameters that play a role in the formation of these spectral lines. We are mainly interested in the structure of the magnetic field vector. We find that many opposite polarity elements of the internetwork are connected by short (2-6''), low-lying (photospheric) loops. These loops connect at least the 10-20 % of the internetwork flux visible in our data. Also we have some evidence that points towards a dynamic scenario which can be produced by the emergence of internetwork magnetic flux.