Multi-line Stokes inversion for prominence magnetic-field diagnostics

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that simultaneous inversion of Stokes profiles from two helium lines improves magnetic field inference accuracy in solar prominences, supporting multi-line observational strategies.

Contribution

It introduces a method for multi-line Stokes inversion that reduces errors in magnetic field diagnostics in prominences compared to single-line approaches.

Findings

Simultaneous inversion reduces magnetic field inference errors.

Multi-line data improves diagnostic accuracy.

Results support multi-line observational strategies.

Abstract

We present test results on the simultaneous inversion of the Stokes profiles of the He I lines at 587.6 nm (D_3) and 1083.0 nm in prominences (90-deg scattering). We created datasets of synthetic Stokes profiles for the case of quiescent prominences (B<200 G), assuming a conservative value of 10^-3 of the peak intensity for the polarimetric sensitivity of the simulated observations. In this work, we focus on the error analysis for the inference of the magnetic field vector, under the usual assumption that the prominence can be assimilated to a slab of finite optical thickness with uniform magnetic and thermodynamic properties. We find that the simultaneous inversion of the two lines significantly reduces the errors on the inference of the magnetic field vector, with respect to the case of single-line inversion. These results provide a solid justification for current and future instrumental efforts with multi-line capabilities for the observations of solar prominences and filaments.