Magnetic Helicity Flux across Solar Active Region Photospheres. I. Hemispheric Sign Preference in Solar Cycle 24

Abstract

Abstract A hemispheric preference in the dominant sign of magnetic helicity has been observed in numerous features in the solar atmosphere, i.e., left-handed/right-handed helicity in the northern/southern hemisphere. The relative importance of different physical processes that may contribute to the observed hemispheric sign preference (HSP) of magnetic helicity is still under debate. Here, we estimate magnetic helicity flux (dH/dt) across the photospheric surface for 4802 samples of 1105 unique active regions (ARs) that appeared over an 8 yr period from 2010 to 2017 during solar cycle 24, using photospheric vector magnetic field observations by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). The estimates of dH/dt show that 63% and 65% of the investigated AR samples in the northern and southern hemispheres, respectively, follow the HSP. We also find a trend that the HSP of dH/dt increases from ∼50%–60% up to ∼70%–80% as ARs (1) appear at the earlier inclining phase of the solar cycle or higher latitudes and (2) have larger values of , the total unsigned magnetic flux, and the average plasma-flow speed. These observational findings support the enhancement of the HSP mainly by the Coriolis force acting on a buoyantly rising and expanding flux tube through the turbulent convection zone. In addition, the differential rotation on the solar surface as well as the tachocline α-effect of a flux-transport dynamo may reinforce the HSP for ARs at higher latitudes.