Formation of Solar Magnetic Flux Tubes with Kilogauss Field Strength Induced by Convective Instability

Abstract

Convective instability has been a mechanism used to explain the formation of solar photospheric flux tubes with kG field strength. However, the turbulence of the Earth's atmosphere has prevented ground-based observers from examining the hypothesis with precise polarimetric measurement on the subarcsecond scale flux tubes. Here we discuss observational evidence of this scenario based on observations with the Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) aboard Hinode. The cooling of an equipartition field strength flux tube precedes a transient downflow reaching 6 km s -1 and the intensification of the field strength to 2 kG. These observations agree very well with the theoretical predictions. © 2008. The American Astronomical Society. All right reserved.