[P-EM10] Space Weather and Space Climate

[PEM10-P07] Development of Compact magnetogram using polarized imaging sensor for space weather monitoring

*Park Inchun¹, Kenichi Otsuji¹, Satoshi Morita¹, Daikou Shiota¹, Yumi Bamba¹, Tatsuki Tahara¹ (1.National Institute of Information and Communications Technology)

Keywords:Solar magnetic field observation, Magnetogram

Observing the solar magnetic field is crucial for space weather forecasting, as solar flares result from intense magnetic energy release. Predicting flares in advance helps mitigate their impact on geospace, making continuous observation and analysis of the Sun’s magnetic field structure.

Currently, observations rely on NASA’s SDO and the ground-based GONG network. However, these programs may face observation gaps due to system failures or aging equipment. To address this, NICT is developing a compact solar magnetograph utilizing the 630 nm Fe I absorption line to enable efficient, cost-effective, and continuous observations.

This system incorporates Etalon filters, polarization image sensors, and liquid crystal retarders, allowing for rapid magnetic field measurements compared to conventional spectropolarimetry, which relies on scanning mechanisms. By reducing moving parts, we achieve a compact, low-maintenance design suited for long-term operation.

This study evaluates the performance of the newly developed instrument, presents solar magnetic field observation results, and explores future improvements for enhanced space weather forecasting.