Vector magnetic field measurement at Huairou and helicity of active regions

Abstract

The Solar Magnetic Field Telescope (SMFT) at the Huairou Solar Observing Station of the National Astronomical Observatory has been obtaining photospheric vector magnetograms on a daily basis for more than 20 years. In this paper we first introduce our magnetograph and our data reduction routine. Then we focus on what we can learn from these vector magnetic field measurements about the magnetic non-potentiality of active regions. Derived physical quantities, such as shear angle, α value and current helicity, are good indicators of magnetic helicity. By studying values and evolutions of these physical quantities, we get a glimpse of the dynamo process in the solar interior. By examining the evolution of these quantities we can also learn what are the favorable conditions for coronal eruptions such as flares and coronal mass ejections.