Editors' Choice: "Non-Neutralized Electric Current of Active Regions Explained as a Projection Effect"

Sun, X., Cheung, M.C.M. Non-Neutralized Electric Current of Active Regions Explained as a Projection Effect. Sol Phys 296, 7 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-020-01742-9​​​​​​​

Editor's Choice (Research Article)

Published: 06 January 2021

Abstract:

Active regions (ARs) often possess an observed net electric current in a single magnetic polarity. We show that such “non-neutralized” currents can arise from a geometric projection effect when a twisted flux tube obliquely intersects the photosphere. To this end, we emulate surface maps of an emerging AR by sampling horizontal slices of a semi-torus flux tube at various heights. Although the tube has no net toroidal current, its poloidal current, when projected along the vertical direction, amounts to a significant non-neutralized component on the surface. If the tube emerges only partially as in realistic settings, the non-neutralized current will 1) develop as double ribbons near the sheared polarity inversion line, (2) positively correlate with the twist, and 3) reach its maximum before the magnetic flux. The projection effect may be important to the photospheric current distribution, in particular during the early stages of flux emergence.

Solar Physics Editor's Choice:

In each volume of Solar Physics, a few articles are marked as “Editors’ Choice”. The primary criteria is original, high quality research that is of wide interest within the community.