Speaker
Description
First Name: Gordon
Last Name: Petrie
Email Address: gpetrie@nso.edu
Affiliation: National Solar Observatory
All Authors: Gordon Petrie
Abstract: The Sun’s polar magnetic field is routinely measured from (near) Earth through full-disk synoptic programs and, less frequently, with high-resolution telescopes. These observations face inherent challenges: the large viewing angle toward the poles degrades effective spatial resolution, lowers signal-to-noise ratios, and places most of the nearly radial magnetic field into the transverse component, for which Zeeman sensitivity is substantially reduced. Although large telescopes can partially mitigate these limitations—albeit over small fields of view and with seeing challenges—the most direct solution is to observe from higher heliographic latitudes and closer proximity to the Sun. I will summarize polar field measurements from the SOLIS/VSM, Hinode/SOT/SP, and DKIST/ViSP spectropolarimeters, highlighting their respective strengths and limitations. I will also discuss the unique vantage and expected scientific return of SO/PHI, which is poised to transform our understanding of the polar magnetic field. As the first Solar Orbiter polar results become available, I will outline the mission’s contributions and the opportunities they present for advancing polar magnetism research.