The Polarity Distribution of Intranetwork and Network Fields

Abstract

We have studied the relative polarity distribution of intranetwork (IN) and network (NW) fields for the first time, using very deep magnetograms obtained at Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO) and Huairou Solar Observation Station (HSOS). We found 80 network cells and measured the polarities of intranetwork and network magnetic flux within each cell. The analysis reveals that, in enhanced networks, the signed sum of the IN flux in a cell and the signed sum of the network flux on the boundary of the cell is opposite with 90% probability; in mixed-polarity network, the corresponding signed fluxes are opposite with a probability of 75%. We suggest that:(1) Some of the excess flux within a cell may connect to a weak field component of the IN field that is below the detection limit.(2) Some IN flux, preferentially close to the cell boundary, may be topologically connected to the network field.(3) Some observational effects might produce this anti-correlation.