Distribution of magnetic helicity flux with solar cycles

Abstract

It is normally believed that a magnetic field transfers helicity from the solar subatmosphere into interplanetary space. This is based on the calculation of the injected magnetic helicity near the center of the solar disk between latitude ±30° of both solar hemispheres in the period 1996-2009. As one follows the long-term injection of magnetic helicity, one finds that the transfer of magnetic helicity does not have a monotonic sign in the northern and southern hemispheres, and that the bulk of the helicity contributed goes to the active region, while the contribution to the quiet Sun is insignificant. The consistency between the total injected magnetic helicity and the sunspot numbers has also been found statistically in the solar cycle. The estimated total injected magnetic helicity flux in our calculation is of the order of or larger than 5.0 × 1046 Mx2 in the 23rd solar cycle. © 2013. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved..