Response of Granulation to Small Scale Bright Features in the Quiet Sun

TL;DR

This study investigates how small-scale bright features called bright points in the Quiet Sun influence local granulation patterns, revealing suppressed convection and specific properties of these features using high-resolution observations.

Contribution

It provides detailed measurements of bright points in the Quiet Sun and their impact on surrounding granulation, highlighting their size, distribution, and influence on convection patterns.

Findings

Bright points cover ~5% of the surface.

Bright points are associated with smaller, stable granules nearby.

Suppressed convection observed around bright point knots.

Abstract

We detected 2.8 bright points (BPs) per Mm$^2$ in the Quiet Sun (QS) with the New Solar Telescope (NST) at Big Bear Solar Observatory; using the TiO 705.68 nm spectral line, at an angular resolution ~ 0.1'' to obtain 30 min data sequence. Some BPs formed knots that were stable in time and influenced the properties of the granulation pattern around them. The observed granulation pattern within ~ 3'' of knots presents smaller granules than those observed in a normal granulation pattern; i.e., around the knots a suppressed convection is detected. Observed BPs covered ~ 5% of the solar surface and were not homogeneously distributed. BPs had an average size of 0.22'', they were detectable for 4.28 min in average, and had an averaged contrast of 0.1% in the deep red TiO spectral line.