Analytical Solution of the Hanle Effect in View of CLASP and Future Polarimetric Solar Studies

• Main Authors: Motoshi Goto, Ryohko Ishikawa, Yusuke Iida, Saku Tsuneta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-06-01
• Series: Atoms
• Subjects: Hanle effect; polarization spectroscopy; solar atmosphere
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-2004/7/2/55

We have solved a problem of the Hanle effect for the hydrogen Lyman-<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mi>&#945;</mi> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> line in an intuitive and straightforward way. The Stokes parameters amid an anisotropic radiation field and a magnetic field are derived as an analytical formula which enables us to conduct immediate analyses of observation data taken by spectro-polarimetry. The derived formula is, in particular, supposed to be used for the analysis of the data taken by CLASP (Chromospheric Lyman-Alpha Spectro-Polarimeter), which has aimed at measuring the linear polarization in the hydrogen Lyman-<inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mi>&#945;</mi> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> line (121.6 nm) and then evaluating the magnetic field in the upper chromosphere and the transition region. The dependence of the Stokes parameters on the strength and direction of the magnetic field and on the observation angle is derived with our analytical model. The results show a satisfactory agreement with those of a more rigorous numerical calculation where the radiative transfer is taken into account and the consistency is assured between the anisotropic randiation field and the polarized atomic state.