29. The internal constitution of sunspots

Abstract

The constitution of stationary single sunspots of circular shape is considered. Account is taken of the mechanical effects of the magnetic field, including those which arise from the curvature of the lines of force. To make the system of magneto-hydrostatic equations manageable, it is assumed that the relative distribution of the vertical component of the magnetic field is the same across the flux-tube of the spot in all depths. Preliminary results indicate that suppression of convective energy transport by the magnetic field in those depths in which ionization of hydrogen takes place, will give the essential observable properties of sunspots, relatively independent on the asumptions about the physical processes in greater depths. There the physical properties of matter can deviate but very little from those of the indisturbed hydrogen convection zone.