Morphology and Dynamics of the Low Solar Chromosphere

TL;DR

This paper investigates the morphology and dynamics of the low solar chromosphere and fluctosphere using IBIS, revealing shock wave patterns in quiet regions and characterizing magnetic flux elements in network areas.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the structure and behavior of magnetic elements and shock patterns in the low solar chromosphere and fluctosphere.

Findings

Shock wave patterns in inter-network regions without significant magnetic flux.

Long-lived magnetic flux elements in network regions.

Proposed modifications to magnetic field measurement methods.

Abstract

The Interferometric Bidimensional Spectrometer (IBIS) installed at the Dunn Solar Telescope of the NSO/SP is used to investigate the morphology and dynamics of the lower chromosphere and the virtually non-magnetic fluctosphere below. The study addresses in particular the structure of magnetic elements that extend into these layers. We choose different quiet Sun regions in and outside coronal holes. In inter-network regions with no significant magnetic flux contributions above the detection limit of IBIS, we find intensity structures with the characteristics of a shock wave pattern. The magnetic flux elements in the network are long lived and seem to resemble the spatially extended counterparts to the underlying photospheric magnetic elements. We suggest a modification to common methods to derive the line-of-sight magnetic field strength and explain some of the difficulties in deriving the magnetic field vector from observations of the fluctosphere.