Supersonic Magnetic Upflows in Granular Cells Observed with Sunrise/IMaX

TL;DR

This paper reports the detection of supersonic magnetic upflows in solar granules, observed with Sunrise/IMaX, revealing dynamic magnetic reconnection processes in the solar photosphere.

Contribution

First observation of supersonic magnetic upflows in granules using Sunrise/IMaX, linking them to magnetic reconnection events in the solar photosphere.

Findings

Supersonic events occur at a rate of 1.3×10⁻⁵ per second per arcsec².

Events last about 80 seconds on average.

Events are associated with opposite polarities and inclined magnetic fields.

Abstract

Using the IMaX instrument on-board the Sunrise stratospheric balloon-telescope we have detected extremely shifted polarization signals around the Fe I 5250.217 {\AA} spectral line within granules in the solar photosphere. We interpret the velocities associated with these events as corresponding to supersonic and magnetic upflows. In addition, they are also related to the appearance of opposite polarities and highly inclined magnetic fields. This suggests that they are produced by the reconnection of emerging magnetic loops through granular upflows. The events occupy an average area of 0.046 arcsec$^2$ and last for about 80 seconds, with larger events having longer lifetimes. These supersonic events occur at a rate of $1.3\times10^{-5}$ occurrences per second per arcsec$^{2}$.