On the magnetic field of off-limb spicules

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic properties of off-limb solar spicules in a quiet region using spectropolarimetric data and a novel inversion method, revealing localized magnetic fields up to approximately 40G.

Contribution

It introduces a new spectropolarimetric analysis of off-limb spicules using the HAZEL inversion code to measure magnetic fields, providing new insights into their magnetic strength.

Findings

Detected magnetic fields up to ~40G in localized spicule regions.

Used a novel inversion technique combining atomic polarization, Hanle, and Zeeman effects.

Provided the first detailed magnetic field measurements of off-limb spicules in quiet Sun areas.

Abstract

Determining the magnetic field related to solar spicules is vital for developing adequate models of these plasma jets, which are thought to play a key role in the thermal, dynamic and magnetic structure of the Chromosphere. Here we report on the magnetic properties of off-limb spicules in a very quiet region of the solar atmosphere, as inferred from new spectropolarimetric observations in the He I 10830 A triplet obtained with the Tenerife Infrared Polarimeter. We have used a novel inversion code for Stokes profiles caused by the joint action of atomic level polarization and the Hanle and Zeeman effects (HAZEL) to interpret the observations. Magnetic fields as strong as ~40G were detected in a very localized area of the slit, which could represent a possible lower value of the field strength of organized network spicules.