2012/09/12 by M. J. Martínez González, A. Asensio Ramos, R. Manso Sainz +2 · 27 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Circular polarization #Linear polarization #Multiplet #Polarimetry #Polarization (electrochemistry) #Quantum, superfluid, helium dynamics #Scientific Research and Discoveries #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics #Solar physics #Sponge spicule #Stokes parameters #astro-ph.SR
paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/0004-637x/759/1/16
published in The Astrophysical Journal 759(1), 16 (IOP Publishing) · accepted for publication in ApJ
arxiv created 2012/09/12 · openalex publication_date 2012/10/11 · arxiv updated 2015/06/11 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We report Stokes vector observations of solar spicules and a prominence in the He i 1083 nm multiplet carried out with the Tenerife Infrared Polarimeter. The observations show linear polarization profiles that are produced by scattering processes in the presence of a magnetic field. After a careful data reduction, we demonstrate the existence of extremely asymmetric Stokes V profiles in the spicular material that we are able to model with two magnetic components along the line of sight, and under the presence of atomic orientation in the energy levels that give rise to the multiplet. We discuss some possible scenarios that can generate the atomic orientation in spicules. We stress the importance of spectropolarimetric observations across the limb to distinguish such signals from observational artifacts.