Solar magnetic fields: polarized radiation diagnostics

Abstract

Cover: Magnetic fields are present all over the solar surface in a highly fragmented or intermittent form.They can be mapped by recording the Zeeman-effect polarization in selected lines of the solar spectrum.The picture shows a portion of the quiet sun at the center of the solar disk.Blue and red indicate fields directed towards or away from us, against a green background with vanishing line-of-sight component.This magnetogram is a color version of Fig. 1.12, courtesy J.W. Harvey, National Solar Observatory/ Kitt Peak.