Bibcode
DOI
Márquez, I.; Sánchez Almeida, J.; Bonet, J. A.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 638, Issue 1, pp. 553-563.
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2
2006
Journal
Citations
29
Refereed citations
19
Description
Local correlation tracking techniques are used to measure proper motions
in a series of high angular resolution (~0.1") penumbra images. If these
motions trace true plasma motions, then we have detected converging
flows that arrange the plasma in long narrow filaments cospatial with
dark penumbral filaments. Assuming that these flows are stationary, the
vertical stratification of the atmosphere and the conservation of mass
suggest downflows in the filaments on the order of 200 m s-1.
The association between downflows and dark features may be a sign of
convection, as it happens with the nonmagnetic granulation. Insufficient
spatial resolution may explain why the estimated vertical velocities are
not fast enough to supply the radiative losses of penumbrae.