Polar Network Index as a magnetic proxy for the solar cycle studies

TL;DR

This paper introduces the Polar Network Index (PNI), a new proxy derived from historical Ca-K spectroheliograms, to estimate the Sun's polar magnetic field over the past century, aiding solar cycle studies.

Contribution

The paper develops and calibrates a novel proxy, PNI, from historical data to extend polar magnetic field measurements back to 1904, enhancing solar dynamo modeling.

Findings

PNI correlates well with direct polar field measurements from 1976-1990.

Dynamo models using PNI reproduce solar magnetic behavior over the past century.

PNI provides a reliable historical record of the Sun's polar magnetic field.

Abstract

The Sun has a polar magnetic field which oscillates with the 11 year sunspot cycle. This polar magnetic field is an important component of the dynamo process which is operating in the solar convection zone and produces the sunspot cycle. We have systematic direct measurements of the Sun's polar magnetic field only from about mid 1970s. There are, however, indirect proxies which give us information about this field at earlier times. The Ca K spectroheliograms taken in Kodaikanal Solar Observatory during 1904 - 2007 have now been digitized with the 4k x 4k CCD and have higher resolution (0.86 arcsec) than the other available historical datasets. From these Ca-K spectroheliograms, we have developed a completely new proxy (Polar Network Index, PNI) for the Sun's polar magnetic field. We calculate the PNI from the digitized images using an automated algorithm and calibrate our measured PNI against the polar field as measured by the Wilcox Solar Observatory for the period of 1976 - 1990. This calibration allows us to estimate polar fields for the earlier period up to 1904. The dynamo calculations done with this proxy as input data reproduce the Sun's magnetic behavior for the past century reasonably well.