Transverse component of the magnetic field in the solar photosphere observed by Sunrise

TL;DR

This paper reports the first observations of the transverse magnetic field component in the solar photosphere using Sunrise/IMaX, revealing a high occurrence rate of features with no characteristic size or lifetime, mainly at granule boundaries.

Contribution

It introduces the first imaging magnetograph observations of the transverse magnetic field in the solar photosphere and provides statistical analysis of magnetic features with unprecedented occurrence rates.

Findings

Higher occurrence rate of magnetic features than previous studies

Features lack characteristic size or lifetime

Features mainly appear at granule boundaries and in downflow lanes

Abstract

We present the first observations of the transverse component of photospheric magnetic field acquired by the imaging magnetograph Sunrise/IMaX. Using an automated detection method, we obtain statistical properties of 4536 features with significant linear polarization signal. Their rate of occurrence is 1-2 orders of magnitude larger than values reported by previous studies. We show that these features have no characteristic size or lifetime. They appear preferentially at granule boundaries with most of them being caught in downflow lanes at some point in their evolution. Only a small percentage are entirely and constantly embedded in upflows (16%) or downflows (8%).