The Hanle Effect and the Determination of Magnetic Fields

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Abstract
A new research area has recently been developed in solar physics, i.e. the determination of magnetic fields by means of the interpretation of the two measured parameters describing the linear polarization of spectral lines (Leroy et al., 1977, Sahal-Bréchot et al., 1977, Leroy 1977a, b, 1978, Stenflo 1977, 1978, Sahal-Bréchot and Bommier 1977, Bommier and Sahal-Bréchot 1978). In solar prominences, this linear polarization is due to resonance scattering of the incident radiation field; the effect of the magnetic field B (Hanle effect) leads to a rotation of the polarization vector and a decrease of the degree of linear polarization. Both these parameters do depend on the strength and the direction of B and the dependence may be calculated using the theory of quantum optics and optical pumping.

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