TECHNIQUES: POLARIMETRIC

Center-to-limb variation of the enigmatic NaI D_1 and D_2 polarization profiles

The remarkable polarization structure of the Na I D_1 and D_2 lines that is due to coherent scattering has remained an enigma, since it has not yet been possible to find an explanation that is consistent with both current understanding of quantum …

Center-to-limb variation of the second solar spectrum.

The linear polarization that is caused by scattering processes in the solar atmosphere has been refered to as the ``second solar spectrum'', since it is structurally as rich as the ordinary intensity spectrum but quite different in appearance and …

The second solar spectrum. A new window for diagnostics of the Sun.

The Sun's radiation becomes linearly polarized by coherent scattering processes in the solar atmosphere. With a novel polarimetry system that achieves a precision of 1e-5 in the degree of polarization, the previously largely unexplored territory of …

Direct measurements of flux tube inclinations in solar plages.

Observations of the full Stokes vector in three spectral lines indicate that flux tubes in solar plages have an average inclination in the photosphere of 14deg with respect to the local vertical. Most flux tubes are inclined in the eastwards …

On the strength of solar intra-network fields.

The combination of the German Vacuum Tower Telescope and the prototype of ZIMPOL I (Zuerich Imaging Stokes Polarimeter I), a novel, very sensitive imaging polarimeter, has resulted in the first spectra of solar intra-network (IN) fields in circular …