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| Paper: |
The Chromospheric Lyman-Alpha SpectroPolarimeter: CLASP |
| Volume: |
456, The Fifth Hinode Science Meeting |
| Page: |
233 |
| Authors: |
Kobayashi, K.; Kano, R.; Trujillo-Bueno, J.; Ramos, A. A.; Bando, T.; Belluzzi, L.; Carlsson, M.; De Pontieu, R. C. B.; Hara, H.; Ichimoto, K.; Ishikawa, R.; Katsukawa, Y.; Kubo, M.; Sainz, R. M.; Narukage, N.; Sakao, T.; Stepan, J.; Suematsu, Y.; Tsuneta, S.; Watanabe, H.; Winebarger, A. |
| Abstract: |
The magnetic field plays a crucial role in the chromosphere and the transition region, and
our poor empirical knowledge of the magnetic field in the upper
chromosphere and transition region is a major impediment to advancing the understanding
of the solar atmosphere.
The Hanle effect promises to be a valuable alternative to Zeeman effect as a method of
measuring the magnetic field in the chromosphere and transition region; it is sensitive to
weaker magnetic fields, and also sensitive to tangled, unresolved field structures.
CLASP is a sounding rocket experiment that aims to observe the Hanle effect polarization of
the Lyman α (1215.67Å) line in the solar chromosphere and transition region, and
prove the usefulness of this technique in placing constraints on the magnetic field strength
and orientation in the low plasma-β region of the solar atmosphere.
The Ly-α line has been chosen because it is a chromospheric/transition-region line, and
because the Hanle effect polarization of this
line is predicted to be sensitive to 10-250 Gauss, encompassing the range of interest.
The CLASP instrument is
designed to measure linear polarization in the Ly-α line with a polarization sensitivity of 0.1%.
The instrument is currently funded for development.
The optical design of the instrument has been finalized, and an extensive series of component-level
tests are underway to validate the design. |
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