depth formation of some solar lines

Bibliography : depth formation of some solar photospheric
Compiled by N. Meunier (Table by F.Grimaud.)

Depths are in km above the level tau(500nm)=1. The first table presents the lines which are sensitive to the magnetic field, and the second the lines which are not sensitive to the magnetic field (Landé factor=0). These tables presents mostly photospheric lines, although you will find a few chromospheric lines. Note that the formation depth depends on :

the wavelength.
the distance to disk center.
the atmosphere model (in particular if it is for the umbra, penumbra, quiet sun, ...).
LTE or non-LTE computations.

These dependences are not always modelized by the various authors. So even if only one value is indicated, one should remember that a range of depths should be considered and that the indicated depth may not correspond to your observations. In addition, values are usually averages over the contribution function. Some of these functions are computed for intensity, others for the velocity (see for example Durrant et al., 1979). Differences can also be due to the type of function used : response function or contribution function (see Kucera et al. 1998 for example for a discussion).

The most complete papers are Altroch et al. (1975) , Bruls et al. (1991), Grossmann-Doerth (1994) , Shchukina et al. (1997), Sheminova (1998). See in particular Bruls et al. (1991), page 453, for some remarks about using these values. Another important reference is Vernazza et al. (1981) . The complete list of references can be found at the end of this page. Some papers provide table(s) of depth formation (usually with other line parameters) for a very large number of lines, therefore we did not reproduced them here (but we have included some of the values for ceratin lines) :

Sheminova (1998) : 604 Fe I lines and 58 Fe II lines in the range 401-900 nm. These tables are only available in electronic form on the CDS site (http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html).
Stathopoulou & Alissandrakis (1993) : 75 Fe I lines in the range 567-771 nm. These tables are also available on the CDS site (http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html).
Balthasar (1988) : 143 lines (Ni I, Ca I, Fe I and II, Na I, Si I, Ca I, Ti I and II, Cr I, Sc II) in the range 500-630 nm, for different distances from disk center.
Balthasar (1984) : 143 lines (Ni I, Ca I, Fe I and II, Na I, Ti I and II, Cr I, Cs II) in the range 500-630 nm, for different distances from disk center.

The Lande factors have been provided by J.-F. Donati and are calculated using the Kurucz model (see here for a more complete tables of solar line informations).

All suggestions to complete or correct this table are welcome : contact me (meunier@bagn.obs-mip.fr).

MAGNETIC LINES

Lines (nm)	Depth	Model	Reference
Ca II K 393.3663 g=1.167	450-650 km (at 1,5 Å from the core, K1)	non-LTE	Vernazza et al., 1981, ApJ supp 45, 635
	700-1450 km (K2)
	1800-2000 km (core, K3)
	600-900 (K2)	non-LTE	Linsky, 1966, AJ 71, 391
	1000-3000 km (core, K3)
	600-1800 km (core, K3)	?	Mein N. & P., 1980, A&A 84, 96
	1750 km (core, K3)	?	Cram, 1974, Sol. Phys. 37, 75
	800-2000 km	?	Grossmann-Doerth et al., 1974, Sol. Phys. 37, 85
Fe I 396.6810 g=0.424	269 km	?	Carlsson & Stein, 1997, ApJ 481, 500
Fe I 484.8882 g=2.013	-66 km + var /	?	Grossmann-Doerth, 1994, A&A 285, 1012

	193 km (core)	LTE / HOLMU	Sheminova, 1998 A&A 329, 721

	138 km (halfwidth)

	156 km (equiv. width)

Fe I 491.1536	163 km (core)	HOLMU Quiet sun	Gadun et al., 1997, A&A 320, 1001

	134 km (whole profile)

Fe I 491.1770 g=1.352	214 km (core)	HOLMU Quiet sun	Gadun et al., 1997, A&A 320, 1001

	166 km (whole profile)

Fe I 508.3338 g=1.250	345km + var /	?	Grossmann-Doerth, 1994, A&A 285, 1012

	654 km (core)	LTE / HOLMU	Sheminova, 1998 A&A 329, 721

	146 km (half width)

	222 km (equiv. width)

FeI 517.1674 g = 0.669	500 km	HSRA atm	Canfield & Mehltretter, 1973, Sol.Phys. 33,33

FeI 516.2292 g = 1.395	390 km	HSRA atm	Canfield & Mehltretter, 1973, Sol.Phys. 33,33

FeI 516.4553 g = 1.143	110 km	HSRA atm	Canfield & Mehltretter, 1973, Sol.Phys, 33,33

	87 km + var /	LTE, quiet sun	Keil &Canfield., 1978, A&A 70, 169

FeI 516.5407 g = 1.301	260 km + var /	LTE, quiet sun	Keil & Canfield., 1978, A&A 70, 169

	230 km	HSRA atm	Canfield & Mehltretter, 1973, Sol.Phys, 33,33

FeI 516.7487 g = 1.153	591 km + var /	LTE, quiet sun	Keil &Canfield., 1978, A&A 70, 169

FeI 515.9050 g = 0.669	160 km	HSRA atm	Canfield & Mehltretter, 1973, Sol.Phys, 33,33

	447 km + var /	LTE, quiet sun	Keil &Canfield., 1978, A&A 70, 169

FeI 517.8793 g = 1.462	40 km + var /	LTE, quiet sun	Keil &Canfield., 1978, A&A 70, 169

	40 km	HSRA atm	Canfield & Mehltretter, 1973, Sol.Phys, 33,33

FeI 518.0056 g = 0.906	110 km	HSRA atm	Canfield & Mehltretter, 1973, Sol.Phys, 33,33

	96 km + var /	LTE, quiet sun	Keil &Canfield., 1978, A&A 70, 169

FeI 518.4265 g = 1.182	197 km + var /	LTE, quiet sun	Keil &Canfield., 1978, A&A 70, 169

FeI 518.7914 g = 0.987	134 km + var /	LTE, quiet sun	Keil &Canfield., 1978, A&A 70, 169

FeI 519.1455 g = 1.998	430 km + var /	LTE, quiet sun	Keil &Canfield., 1978, A&A 70, 169

FeI 519.2343 g = 1.832	471 km + var /	LTE, quiet sun	Keil &Canfield., 1978, A&A 70, 169

Fe I 524.7049 g=1.992

	448 km (core)	LTE / HOLMU	Sheminova, 1998 A&A 329, 721

	192 km (half width)

	252 km (equiv. width)

	319 km	quiet sun, VAL-C LTE	Bruls et al., 1991, Solar Polarimetry L. November Eds., NSO, Sunspot, 444
	266 km	quiet sun, VAL-C NLTE
	265 km	bright network, VAL-C LTE
	236 km	bright network, VAL-C NLTE
	431 km	penumbra, VAL-C LTE
	412 km	penumbra, VAL-C NLTE
	597 km	umbra, VAL-C LTE
	598 km	umbra, VAL-C NLTE
Fe I 525.0208 g=2.999

	440 km (core)	LTE / HOLMU	Sheminova, 1998 A&A 329, 721

	192 km (half width)

	250 km (equiv. width)

	312 km	quiet sun, VAL-C LTE	Bruls et al., 1991, Solar Polarimetry L. November Eds., NSO, Sunspot, 444
	260 km	quiet sun, VAL-C NLTE
	259 km	bright network, VAL-C LTE
	230 km	bright network, VAL-C NLTE
	425 km	penumbra, VAL-C LTE
	406 km	penumbra, VAL-C NLTE
	590 km	umbra, VAL-C LTE
	592 km + var /	umbra, VAL-C NLTE

	228 km	HOLMUL NLTE	Shchukina et al., 1997, Sol. Phys. 172, 117
	338 km	HOLMUL LTE
	47 km + var /	?	Grossmann-Doerth, 1994, A&A 285, 1012

Fe I 525.0645 g=1.502

	547 km (core)	LTE / HOLMU	Sheminova, 1998 A&A 329, 721

	132 km (half width)

	200 km (equiv. width)

C I 538.03	40 km	?	Fleck, 1991, PhD Thesis, Univ. Würzburg

	40 km	?	Guenther & Mattig, 1991, A&A 243, 244

Fe I 563.5824 g=0.677

	168 km (core)	LTE / HOLMU	Sheminova, 1998 A&A 329, 721

	118 km (half width)

	134 km (equiv. width)

	76 km	?	Balthasar, 1988, A&AS 72, 473
	72 km	HOLMUL NLTE	Shchukina et al., 1997, Sol. Phys. 172, 117
	108 km	HOLMUL LTE
Fe I 617.3341 g=2.499

	387 km (core)	LTE / HOLMU	Sheminova, 1998 A&A 329, 721

	160 km (half width)

	222 km (equiv. width)

	276 km	quiet sun, VAL-C LTE	Bruls et al., 1991, Solar Polarimetry L. November Eds., NSO, Sunspot, 44
	238 km	quiet sun, VAL-C NLTE
	247 km	bright network, VAL-C LTE
	223 km	bright network, VAL-C NLTE
	276 km	penumbra, VAL-C LTE
	266 km	penumbra, VAL-C NLTE
	385 km	umbra, VAL-C LTE
	386 km	umbra, VAL-C NLTE
Fe I 630.1498 g=1.669

	528 km (core)	LTE / HOLMU	Sheminova, 1998 A&A 329, 721

	124 km (half width)

	164 km (equiv. width)

	80-100 km	?	Schleicher, 1997, priv. comm. (in Sigwarth et al., 1999, A&A 349, 941)

	300 km	?	Guenther & Mattig, 1991, A&A 243, 244

	340 km + var /	Same as Grossmann-Doerth (1994)	Kucera et al., 1998 A&A 332, 1069

	325 km	HOLMUL NLTE	Shchukina et al., 1997, Sol. Phys. 172, 117
	423 km	HOLMUL LTE
	337 km	quiet sun, VAL-C LTE	Bruls et al., 1991, Solar Polarimetry L. November Eds., NSO, Sunspot, 444
	294 km	quiet sun, VAL-C NLTE
	314 km	bright network, VAL-C LTE
	287 km	bright network, VAL-C NLTE
	253 km	penumbra, VAL-C LTE
	245 km	penumbra, VAL-C NLTE
	321 km	umbra, VAL-C LTE
	303 km	umbra, VAL-C NLTE
	+ var /
Fe I 630.2494 g=2.487

	404 km (core)	LTE / HOLMU	Sheminova, 1998 A&A 329, 721

	130 km (half width)

	187 km (equiv. width)

	80-100 km	?	Schleicher, 1997, priv. comm. (in Sigwarth et al., 1999, A&A 349, 941)

	250 km + var /	Same as Grossmann-Doerth (1994)	Kucera et al., 1998 A&A 332, 1069

	249 km	quiet sun, VAL-C LTE	Bruls et al., 1991, Solar Polarimetry L. November Eds., NSO, Sunspot, 444
	218 km	quiet sun, VAL-C NLTE
	232 km	bright network, VAL-C LTE
	209 km	bright network, VAL-C NLTE
	194 km	penumbra, VAL-C LTE
	190 km	penumbra, VAL-C NLTE
	190 km	umbra, VAL-C LTE
	183 km	umbra, VAL-C NLTE
	+ var /
Ca 649.3781 g=0.880	300 km (core)	LTE	Koch et al, 1979, Sol.Phys. 64,13

	130 km (whole profile)

	~ 320 km	?	Durrant et al., 1979 Sol.Phys, 61, 251

	335 km	LTE	Wiehr & Kneer, 1988 A&A 195, 310

FeI 649.4499	64 km	LTE	Wiehr & Kneer, 1988 A&A 195, 310

	105 km	LTE	Nesis & al., 1987 A&A 182, L5

	180 km	Same as Grossmann-Doerth(1994)	Kucera et al., 1998 A&A 332, 1069

Fe I 649.4980 g=1.026	450 km (core)	LTE	Koch et al, 1979, Sol.Phys. 64,13

	190 km (whole profile)

	~ 380 - 590 km ( 2 peaks)	?	Durrant et al., 1979 Sol.Phys, 61, 251

	500 km + var /	Same as Grossmann-Doerth(1994)	Kucera et al., 1998 A&A 332, 1069

	535 km	LTE	Wiehr & Kneer, 1988 A&A 195, 310

	656 km (core)	HOLMU Quiet sun	Gadun et al., 1997 A&A 320, 1001

	332 km (whole profile)

FeI 649.5737 g = 0.846	135 km	?	Nesis et al., 1987, A&A 182, L5

Fe I 649.6469 g = 1.074	150 km (core)	LTE	Koch et al, 1979, Sol.Phys. 64,13

	80 km (whole profile)

	~ 160 km	?	Durrant et al., 1979 Sol.Phys, 61, 251

	190 km	LTE	Wiehr & Kneer, 1988 A&A 195, 310

Ba+ 649.6897 g = 0.833	400 km (core)	LTE	Koch et al, 1979, Sol.Phys. 64,13

	170 km (whole profile)

	310 km	LTE	Wiehr & Kneer, 1988 A&A 195, 310

	~ 430 km	?	Durrant et al., 1979 Sol.Phys, 61, 251

Fe I 649.8937 g = 1.382	215 km	LTE	Wiehr & Kneer, 1988 A&A 195, 310

Ca 649.9650 g = 0.958	255 km	LTE	Wiehr & Kneer, 1988 A&A 195, 310

Halpha 656.2797 g=1.048	1200-1700 km (core)	non-LTE	Vernazza et al., 1981, ApJ supp 45, 635
	100-300 km (wing)
	1900 ± 200 km	Sunspot (limb obs.)	White & Wilson, 1966 ApJ 146, 250
	2100-3500 km	Arch (various µ)
Ni 676.7768 g=1.426	~ 200 km + var/µ + var/	VAL-C, quasi LTE	Jones, 1989 Sol. Phys. 120, 211
	350 km	LTE, quiet sun	Vernazza et al., 1981, ApJ supp 45, 635
	280 km (wing)	non-LTE, quiet sun
K I 769.8974 g=1.333	450 km	?	de la Reza & Müller, 1975, Sol. Phys. 43, 15

Ca II 849.8023 g=1.067	600-1100 km (up to 1500 km)	HSRA	Mein N. & P., 1980, A&A 84, 96
Ca II 854.2091 g=1.099 (central line IR triplet)	800-1200 km	VAL-C	Jones, 1982, Sol. Phys.79, 279
	600-1500 km (core)	?	Mein N. & P., 1980, A&A 84, 96
	1000 km (core)	?	Cram, 1974, Sol.Phys. 37, 75
Fe I 868.8621 g=1.661	475 km	quiet sun, VAL-C LTE	Bruls et al., 1991, Solar Polarimetry L. November Eds., NSO, Sunspot, 444
	432 km	quiet sun, VAL-C NLTE
	437 km	bright network, VAL-C LTE
	421 km	bright network, VAL-C NLTE
	475 km	penumbra, VAL-C LTE
	461 km	penumbra, VAL-C NLTE
	638 km	umbra, VAL-C LTE
	644 km	umbra, VAL-C NLTE
	525 km (core)	?	Elste and Harvey, private communication, in Nesme-Ribes et al., 1996. A&A 308, 213
	400 km (45 mÅ)
	50 km (0.2Å)

NON MAGNETIC LINES :

Lines (nm)	*Depth*	*Model*	Reference
Fe I 543.4523	550 km + var /	Same as Grossmann-Doerth (1994)	Kucera et al., 1998, 332, 1069
	550 km + var /	Same as Grossmann-Doerth (1994)	Kucera et al., 1998, 332, 1069
	530 km +	partial non-LTE	Altroch et al., 1975, Sol. Phys. 53, 33
	+ var / µ &	partial non-LTE	Altroch et al., 1975, Sol. Phys. 53, 33
	556 km	quiet sun, VAL-C LTE	Bruls et al., 1991, Solar Polarimetry L. November Eds., NSO, Sunspot, 444
	543 km	quiet sun, VAL-C NLTE
	523 km	bright network, VAL-C LTE
	532 km	bright network, VAL-C NLTE
	596 km	penumbra, VAL-C LTE
	618 km	penumbra, VAL-C NLTE
	752 km	umbra, VAL-C LTE
	766 km	umbra, VAL-C NLTE
Fe I 557.6090
	516 km (core)	LTE / HOLMU	Sheminova., 1998. A&A 329, 721
	118 km (half width)
	160 km (equiv. width)
	310 km + var /	Same as Grossmann-Doerth (1994)	Kucera et al., 1998, 332, 1069
	310 km + var /	Same as Grossmann-Doerth (1994)	Kucera et al., 1998, 332, 1069
	300 km + var /	?	Guenther & Mattig, 1991 A&A 243, 244
	300 km + var /	?	Guenther & Mattig, 1991 A&A 243, 244
	360 km	?	Balthasar, 1988, A&AS 72, 473
	366 km	Canfield, 1976 Sol.Phys.50, 239	Komm et al., 1990, A&A 239, 340
	370 km	partial non-LTE	Altroch et al., 1975, Sol. Phys. 53, 33
	+ var /µ &	partial non-LTE	Altroch et al., 1975, Sol. Phys. 53, 33
	310 km	quiet sun, VAL-C LTE	Bruls et al., 1991, Solar Polarimetry L. November Eds., NSO, Sunspot, 444
	272 km	quiet sun, VAL-C NLTE
	288 km	bright network, VAL-C LTE
	263 km	bright network, VAL-C NLTE
	243 km	penumbra, VAL-C LTE
	238 km	penumbra, VAL-C NLTE
	302 km	umbra, VAL-C LTE
	294 km	umbra, VAL-C NLTE
Fe I 569.1500	160 km	partial non-LTE	Altroch et al., 1975, Sol. Phys. 53, 33
Fe I 569.1500	+ var / µ &	partial non-LTE	Altroch et al., 1975, Sol. Phys. 53, 33

REFERENCES

Altroch et al., 1975, Sol. Phys. 53, 33
Balthasar, 1988, A&AS 72, 473
Bruls et al., 1991, Solar Polarimetry, L. November Ed., NSO Sunspot, 444
Canfield & Mehltretter, 1973, Sol. Phys. 33, 33
Carlsson & Stein, 1997, ApJ 481, 500
Cram, 1974, Sol. Phys. 37, 75
Durrant et al., 1979, Sol. Phys. 61, 251
Fleck, 1991, PhD Thesis, Univ. Würzburg
Gadun et al., 1997, A&A 320, 1001
Grossmann-Doerth et al., 1974, Sol. Phys. 37, 85
Grossmann-Doerth, 1994, A&A 285, 1012
Guenther & Mattig, 1991, A&A 243, 244
Jones, 1982, Sol. Phys. 79, 279
Jones, 1989, Sol. Phys. 120, 211
Keil & Canfield, 1978, A&A 70, 169
Koch et al., 1979, Sol. Phys. 64, 13
Komm et al., 1990, A&A 239, 340
Kucera et al., 1998, A&A 332, 1069
Linsky, 1996, AJ 71, 391
Mein N. & P., 1980, A&A 84, 96
Nesis et al., 1987, A&A 182, L5
Nesme-Ribes et al., 1996, A&A 308, 213
de la Reza & MUller, 1975, Sol. Phys. 43, 15
Shchukina et al., 1997, Sol. Phys., 172, 117
Sheminova, 1998, A&A 329, 721
Sigwarth et al., 1999, A&A 349, 941
Stathopoulou & Alissandrakis, 1993, A&A 274, 555
Vernazza et al., 1981, ApJ supp 45, 635
White & Wilson, 1966, ApJ 146, 250
Wiehr & Kneer, 1988, A&A 195, 310

Last updated 27 April 2001