Trees Of Fragmenting Granules Research Articles

Transport of the magnetic flux away from a decaying sunspot via convective motions

The interaction between magnetic fields and convection in sunspots during their decay process remains poorly understood,， whereas the formation of sunspots is relatively well studied and fully modeled. Works on the velocity scales at the solar surface have pointed to the existence of the family of granules, whose interaction with the magnetic field leads to the formation of supergranules and their networks, which are visible at the solar surface. The aim of this paper is to consider relationship between the decay of sunspots and convection via the motion of the family of granules and how the diffusion mechanism of magnetic field operates in a decaying sunspot. We report the decay of a sunspot observed by the 1.6m Goode Solar Telescope (GST) with the TiO Broadband Filter Imager (BFI) and the Near-InfraRed Imaging Spectropolarimeter (NIRIS). The analysis was aided by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) on board the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO). In the first step, we followed the decay of the sunspot with HMI data over three days by constructing its evolving area and total magnetic flux. In the second step, the high spatial and temporal resolution of the GST instruments allowed us to analyze the causes of the decay of the sunspot. Afterward, we followed the emergence of granules in the moat region around the sunspot over six hours. The evolution of the trees of fragmenting granules (TFGs) was derived based on their relationship with the horizontal surface flows. We find that the area and total magnetic flux display an exponential decrease over the course of the sunspot decay. We identified 22 moving magnetic features (MMFs) in the moats of pores, which is a signature of sunspot decay through diffusion. We note that the MMFs were constrained to follow the borders of TFGs during their journey away from the sunspot. The TFGs and their development contribute to the diffusion of the magnetic field outside the sunspot. The conclusion of our analysis shows the important role of the TFGs in sunspot decay. Finally, the the family of granules evacuates the magnetic field.

Link between trees of fragmenting granules and deep downflows in MHD simulation

Context. Trees of fragmenting granules (TFG) and associated flows are suspected to play a major role in the formation of the network in the quiet Sun. We investigate the counterparts, in terms of dynamics, of surface structures detectable by high resolution observations in deeper layers up to 15 Mm, which are only available from numerical simulations. Aims. The first aim is to demonstrate that TFG can be evidenced either from surface intensitites, vertical (Vz), or Doppler (Vdop) velocities. The second is to show that horizontal flows, which are derived from intensities or Vz/Vdop flows, are in good agreement, and that this is the case for observations and numerical simulations. The third objective is to apply this new Vz-based method to a 3D simulation to probe relationships between horizontal surface flows, TFG, and deep vertical motions. Methods. The TFG were detected after oscillation filtering of intensities or Vz/Vdop flows, using a segmentation and labelling technique. Surface horizontal flows were derived from local correlation tracking (LCT) and from intensities or Vz/Vdop flows. These methods were applied to Hinode observations, 2D surface results of a first simulation, and 3D Vz data of a second simulation. Results. We find that TFG and horizontal surface flows (provided by the LCT) can be detected either from intensities or Vz/Vdop component, for high resolution observations and numerical simulations. We apply this method to a 3D run providing the Vz component in depth. This reveals a close relationship between surface TFG (5 Mm mesoscale) and vertical downflows 5 Mm below the surface. We suggest that the dynamics of TFG form larger scales (the 15–20 Mm supergranulation) associated with 15 Mm downflowing cells below the surface. Conclusions. The TFG and associated surface flows seem to be essential to understanding the formation and evolution of the network at the meso and supergranular scale.

Relation between trees of fragmenting granules and supergranulation evolution

Context: The determination of the underlying mechanisms of the magnetic elements diffusion over the solar surface is still a challenge. Understanding the formation and evolution of the solar network (NE) is a challenge, because it provides a magnetic flux over the solar surface comparable to the flux of active regions at solar maximum. Aims: We investigate the structure and evolution of interior cells of solar supergranulation. From Hinode observations, we explore the motions on solar surface at high spatial and temporal resolution. We derive the main organization of the flows inside supergranules and their effect on the magnetic elements. Method: To probe the superganule interior cell, we used the Trees of Fragmenting Granules (TFG) evolution and their relations to horizontal Results: Evolution of TFG and their mutual interactions result in cumulative effects able to build horizontal coherent flows with longer lifetime than granulation (1 to 2 hours) over a scale up to 12\arcsec. These flows clearly act on the diffusion of the intranetwork (IN) magnetic elements and also on the location and shape of the network. Conclusions: From our analysis during 24 hours, TFG appear as one of the major elements of the supergranules which diffuse and advect the magnetic field on the Sun's surface. The strongest supergranules contribute the most to magnetic flux diffusion in the solar photosphere.

Families of Granules, Flows, and Acoustic Events in the Solar Atmosphere from Hinode Observations

We investigate the relationship between trees of fragmenting granules (TFG), horizontal and vertical flows, and acoustic events (AE) in the photospheric network. AE are spatially concentrated and short-duration locations of acoustic energy flux. We performed observations at disk center of a 2D field of view (FOV) with high spatial and temporal resolutions provided by the Solar Optical Telescope onboard Hinode. Line profiles of Fe i 557.6 nm were recorded by the Narrow-band Filter Imager on an 80″×36″ FOV during five hours with a cadence of 22 seconds and 0.08″ pixel size. Vertical velocities were derived at two atmospheric levels allowing the determination of the energy flux at the acoustic frequency of 3.3 mHz. Families of granules and horizontal velocities were obtained from local correlation tracking (LCT) after segmentation and labeling of either continuum intensities or granular Doppler shifts. AE exhibit durations in the range 0.25 to 1 hour compatible with the lifetime of families (80 % do not last more than two hours). High-energy AE have the shortest lifetimes. We found that most AE occur in intergranular lanes located in or close to the boundaries between different families (called inter families) in regions with predominantly downward vertical motions and horizontal converging flows. In contrast, diverging flows are observed inside families, with a few AE in the intergranules. At the beginning of the sequence, when families are not yet detected, the distribution of AE is not uniform and is already organized at spatial lengths related to the mesogranular scale, with maximum contribution in the range 5″ to 10″, fully compatible with the scale of the maximum contribution of families in the TFG space. Although all sizes and durations seem to exist for families, their number decreases with increasing size and lifetime.

Relation between families of granules, mesogranules and photospheric network

The analysis of a solar granulation 3-h time sequence obtained at the Pic du Midi Observatory confirms the existence of Trees of Fragmenting Granules (TFG). The TFG lifetime histogram is fitted by a power law with an exponent equal to −1.68. The positive divergences (i.e. mesogranules) come from several families that are visible at different stages of the mesogranule evolution. We observe a good coincidence between the cork (passive scalars) distribution and the TFG boundaries. Thus, TFGs seem to play a role in the diffusion of the magnetic elements on the Sun surface.

Families of fragmenting granules and their relation to meso– and supergranular flow fields

D analysis (x;y;t) of the granular intensity field (11-hour time sequence from the Swedish Vacuum Solar Telescope on La Palma, Canary Islands), demonstrates that a significant fraction of the granules in the photosphere are organized in the form of Trees of Fragmenting Granules (TFGs). A TFG consists of a family of repeatedly splitting granules, originating from a single granule at its beginning. A striking result is that TFGs can live much longer (up to 8 h) than individual granules (10 min). We find that 62% of the area covered by granules belongs to TFGs of a lifetime>1.5 h. When averaged in time, such long-lived TFGs correspond to coherent diverging flows which may be identified as mesogranules. We also find a correlation between the network and the spatial distribution of TFGs.

Recurrence of fragmenting granules and their relation to meso- and supergranular flow fields

The 3D analysis ( x , y , t ) of the granulation intensity field (11-hour time sequence from Swedish Vacuum Solar Telescope on La Palma, Canary Islands), demonstrated that the granules in the phostosphere are organized in `` Trees of Fragmenting Granules (TFGs). A TFG consists of a family of repeatedly splitting granules, issued from one granule at its beginning. A striking result is that TFGs can live much longer (up to 8h10) than individual granules (10 mn). When averaged in time, such long-lived TFGs can be identified to the mesogranules. We also found a correlation between the network and the spatial distribution of TFGs.