Nonlinear calibration of vector magnetograms by the video vector magnetograph at Huairou

Abstract

We compare the results of two calibration methods for deriving a photospheric vector magnetogram, as applied to the Fei 5324.19Å line. The first method ignores the dependence of its calibration coefficients on the inclination angle. The second method is a multi-iteration, nonlinear calibration technique developed by [M.J. Hagyard, J.I. Kineke, Solar Phys. 158 (1995) 11], which allows the polarization signals to depend on both field strength and inclination angle. We compare the relationship between the derived solar magnetic field and the Stokes parameters under both methods. We find that the circular polarization signal of the Fei 5324.19Å line is linearly proportional to the longitudinal strength, BL, when the field strength ranges from 0 to 1000 Gauss. For BL>1000G and inclination angles ranging from 30° to 90°, deviation from linearity is significant. For the transverse field, BT, the assumption of linearity only holds for 0<BT<300G. In contrast to the former method of calibration, the improved calibration method accounts for the nonlinear relationship between polarization signals and the magnetic field strength. Using [A. Skumanich, in: J.H. Thomas and N.O. Weiss (Eds.), Sunspots: Theory and Observations. Kluwer, Dordrecht, 1992, p. 121] dipole field model, we show that the Fei 5324.19Å line has more linear property than the Fei 6302.5Å line.