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An Overview of Existing Algorithms for Resolving the 180° Ambiguity in Vector Magnetic Fields: Quantitative Tests with Synthetic Data

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Abstract

We report here on the present state-of-the-art in algorithms used for resolving the 180° ambiguity in solar vector magnetic field measurements. With present observations and techniques, some assumption must be made about the solar magnetic field in order to resolve this ambiguity. Our focus is the application of numerous existing algorithms to test data for which the correct answer is known. In this context, we compare the algorithms quantitatively and seek to understand where each succeeds, where it fails, and why. We have considered five basic approaches: comparing the observed field to a reference field or direction, minimizing the vertical gradient of the magnetic pressure, minimizing the vertical current density, minimizing some approximation to the total current density, and minimizing some approximation to the field's divergence. Of the automated methods requiring no human intervention, those which minimize the square of the vertical current density in conjunction with an approximation for the vanishing divergence of the magnetic field show the most promise.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northwest Research Associates, Colorado Research Associates Division, 3380 Mitchell Ln., Boulder, CO, 80301, U.S.A.

    Thomas R. Metcalf, K. D. Leka & Graham Barnes

  2. High Altitude Observatory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO, 80307-3000, U.S.A.

    Bruce W. Lites

  3. The Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Rd., Laurel, MD, 20723-6099, U.S.A.

    Manolis K. Georgoulis

  4. National Solar Observatory, Sunspot, NM, 88349, U.S.A.

    A. A. Pevtsov & K. S. Balasubramaniam

  5. NASA/MSFC/NSSTC, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, 35812, U.S.A.

    G. Allen Gary

  6. New Jersey Institute of Technology, Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research, 323 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Newark, NJ, 07102, U.S.A.

    Ju Jing

  7. Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, 2680 Woodlawn Dr., Honolulu, HI, 96822, U.S.A.

    Jing Li

  8. Stanford University, HEPL Annex, B210, Stanford, CA, 94305-4085, U.S.A.

    Y. Liu

  9. National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, A20 Datun Rd., Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100012, China

    H. N. Wang

  10. Big Bear Solar Observatory, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 40386 North Shore Lane, Big Bear City, CA, 92314-9672, U.S.A.

    Valentyna Abramenko & Vasyl Yurchyshyn

  11. Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, 61-1 Hwaam-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-348, South Korea

    Y.-J. Moon

Authors
  1. Thomas R. Metcalf
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  2. K. D. Leka
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  3. Graham Barnes
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  4. Bruce W. Lites
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  5. Manolis K. Georgoulis
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  6. A. A. Pevtsov
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  7. K. S. Balasubramaniam
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  8. G. Allen Gary
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  9. Ju Jing
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  10. Jing Li
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  11. Y. Liu
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  12. H. N. Wang
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  13. Valentyna Abramenko
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  14. Vasyl Yurchyshyn
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  15. Y.-J. Moon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas R. Metcalf.

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Metcalf, T.R., Leka, K.D., Barnes, G. et al. An Overview of Existing Algorithms for Resolving the 180° Ambiguity in Vector Magnetic Fields: Quantitative Tests with Synthetic Data. Sol Phys 237, 267–296 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-006-0170-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-006-0170-x

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