High-resolution observations of two pores with the integral field unit (IFU) of the GREGOR Infrared Spectrograph (GRIS)

TL;DR

This study uses high-resolution spectropolarimetric observations from the GREGOR telescope to analyze magnetic and flow structures of two solar pores, demonstrating the capabilities of the GRIS IFU and revealing detailed magnetic configurations.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed comparison of magnetic and flow fields in an active-region and an isolated pore using the GREGOR GRIS IFU, and employs machine learning to analyze Stokes-V profiles.

Findings

Both pores contain a thin light bridge and are stable without developing penumbrae.

The isolated pore is smaller and darker than the active-region pore, contrary to some simulations.

Magnetic field structures show concentric layers with varying inclination, indicating complex magnetic topology.

Abstract

The goal is to compare the intricate details of the magnetic and flow fields around two solar pores, where one is part of an active region and the other is an isolated pore, with a secondary goal of demonstrating the scientific capabilities of the GRIS IFU. Two pores were observed with the HiFI and the GRIS IFU at the GREGOR solar telescope on 29 May and 6 June 2019. The GRIS IFU mosaics provide spectropolarimetric data for inversions of the Ca I 1083.9 nm and Si I 1082.7 nm spectral lines, covering the deep and upper photosphere. The t-SNE machine learning algorithm is employed to identify different classes of Si I Stokes-V profiles. The LCT technique derives horizontal proper motions around the pores. Both pores contain a thin light bridge, are stable during the observations, and never develop a penumbra. The isolated pore is three times smaller and significantly darker than the active-region pore, which is not predicted by simulations. The LCT maps show inflows around both pores, with lower velocities for the isolated pore. Both pores are embedded in the photospheric LOS velocity pattern of the granulation but filamentary structures are only visible in the chromospheric LOS maps of the active-region pore. The t-SNE identifies five clusters of Si I Stokes-V profiles, revealing an `onion-peel' magnetic field structure, despite the small size of the pores. The core with strong vertical magnetic fields is surrounded by concentric layers with lower and more inclined magnetic fields. The active-region pore shows some signatures of increased interaction between plasma motions and magnetic fields, which can be considered as early signs of penumbra formation. However, similar physical properties prevail for smaller pores. A statistically meaningful sample of different pore sizes and morphologies is required to distinguish between active-region and isolated pore formation mechanisms.