Elements and Patterns in the Solar Magnetic Field

Abstract

and the non thermal processes in th e solar atmosphere indicate the importance of mag netic fields in turbulent cosmical bodies. We are now aware that magnetic processes also occur in other stars, in protostars, in supernova remnants, in gaseous disks of galaxies, in accretion disks around compact stars, and in active nuclei of galaxies. The solar atmosphere, howe ver, is the prime focus for the observational study of astrophy sical magneto hydrodynamics (MHD) and plasma phy sics. This selective review concentrates on observational studies that may reveal the MHD processes in th e solar interior and photosphere th at generate and shape the magnetic field. The intrinsicall y strong magnetic field is contained in seemingly isolated elements, ranging from th e thick bundles of flux tubes in sunspots to th e hypothetical thin flux fi bers (S ection 3). These elements are arranged in the typical patterns observed in active regions and in the magnetic network