Longitudinal structure of the photospheric magnetic field in the Carrington system

TL;DR

This study analyzes three solar cycles' magnetic field data to identify persistent active longitudes, revealing two stable active regions separated by approximately 160 degrees, challenging the idea of random longitudinal distribution.

Contribution

It provides evidence for stable active longitudes in the Sun's photospheric magnetic field over multiple solar cycles, using Carrington coordinate analysis.

Findings

Identification of two active longitudes separated by 150-170 degrees.

Rejection of the random distribution hypothesis for magnetic field longitudes.

Confirmation of stable active regions over three solar cycles.

Abstract

The observations of the Sun have been performed over the years, even centuries- Whether are there active longitudes? If yes how stable are they? One of the first The Wilcox Solar Observatory data taken over three cycles N 21, N 22, N 23 have been used to reveal the longitudinal structure of the photospheric magnetic field. Mean over three cycles magnetic field distribution has been calculated in the North and in the South hemispheres as well as at 30 levels of latitude from -75 to 75 degrees. This study was performed using observations of the magnetic field taking into account its polarity or only intensity. The longitudinal structure of the magnetic field was calculated in the coordinate system rotating with Carrington rate. These structures were compared with a model of random longitudinal distribution of the magnetic field. Random character of the longitudinal structure was refused. The results agree with the presence of two active meridians seen in different phenomena of solar activity at longitudes separated by 150-170 degrees in the Carrington coordinate system.