Observations and modeling of the solar flux emergence
Abstract
In a wide variety of magnetic activity phenomena occurring in the Sun, flux emergence is one of the most prominent events. It is important to study flux emergence since this is the process that transports the magnetic flux from the deep interior to the upper atmosphere, creates active regions, and sometimes causes catastrophic flaring eruptions. Recent observations have revealed that flux emergence ranges from the formation of large-scale active regions including sunspots to small-scale events observable only with advanced instruments, covering a very broad spectrum of scale involved. In addition, helioseismology may allow us to investigate the process even before the flux itself appears at the visible surface of the Sun. At the same time, recent development in the numerical modeling of flux emergence opens the door to a further understanding of physical processes, such as resistive and convective emergence. In this paper, we review the observational and numerical progress in the field of flux emergence study, while focusing particularly on three important aspects: emergence in the interior, the first appearance in the surface layer, and their relation with flaring activity. Based on these studies, we also discuss what should be investigated in the future.
- Publication:
-
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan
- Pub Date:
- December 2014
- DOI:
- 10.1093/pasj/psu100
- Bibcode:
- 2014PASJ...66S...6T
- Keywords:
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- Sun: activity;
- Sun: corona;
- Sun: flares;
- Sun: interior;
- Sun: magnetic fields;
- Sun: photosphere