The orientation of magnetic fields in quiescent prominences

Abstract

We have measured the longitudinal component, B∥, of the magnetic field in quiescent prominences and obtained a relationship between B∥ and θ, where θ is the angle between the long axis of the prominence and the north-south direction on the sun. From this relationship we deduce a distribution function for the magnetic field vector in quiescent prominences in terms of the angle α between the field and the long axis of the prominence. The mean angle, α, for our data is small, ∼ - 15°, indicating that the magnetic field traverses quiescent prominences under a small, but finite angle.