Stokes profile analysis and vector magnetic fields. I. Inversion of photospheric lines

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/165743· OSTI ID:5424972

Skumanich, A; Lites, B W

Improvements are proposed for the Auer et al. (1977) method for the analytic inversion of Stokes profiles via nonlinear least squares. The introduction of additional physics into the Mueller absorption matrix (by including damping wings and magnetooptical birefringence, and by decoupling the intensity profile from the three-vector polarization profile in the analysis) is found to result in a more robust inversion method, providing more reliable and accurate estimates of sunspot vector magnetic fields without significant loss of economy. The method is applied to sunspot observations obtained with the High Altitude Observatory polarimeter. 29 references.

• Research Organization: High Altitude Observatory, Boulder, CO (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5424972
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Vol. 322
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
SUNSPOTS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
LEAST SQUARE FIT
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PHOTOSPHERE
POLARIZATION
RADIATION TRANSPORT
STOKES PARAMETERS
ATMOSPHERES
MAXIMUM-LIKELIHOOD FIT
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR ATMOSPHERE
STARSPOTS
STELLAR ACTIVITY
640104* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Solar Phenomena