Properties of 16 Sunspots Observed with Hinode Solar Optical Telescope

TL;DR

This study analyzes 16 sunspots using Hinode Solar Optical Telescope data, revealing detailed structures and asymmetries within the umbra and penumbra, and discusses these features in the context of current sunspot models.

Contribution

First detailed analysis of sunspot structures combining spectropolarimetry and multi-filter imaging with Hinode data, highlighting asymmetries and fine features.

Findings

Identification of compact blobs at penumbral footpoints

Detection of disk center-limb asymmetry in features

Insights into sunspot structure consistent with contemporary models

Abstract

We studied 16 sunspots with different sizes and shapes using the observations with the Hinode Solar Optical Telescope. The ratio of G-band and CaII H images reveal rich structures both within the umbra and penumbra of most spots. The striking features are the compact blob at the foot point of the umbra side of the penumbral fibrils with disk center-limb side asymmetry. In this paper, we present properties of these features using the spectropolarimetry and images in G-band, CaII and blue filters. We discuss the results using the contemporary models of the sunspots.