Measuring currents in the solar atmosphere

Abstract:

The brightness and morphology of coronal structures indicate that electric currents permeate the solar atmosphere, yet quantifying these currents is difficult. In this introduction to measuring currents in the atmosphere of the Sun, I will give an overview of the present state of electric current measurement near the solar surface. I will discuss a few of the challenges of remote sensing, including what it is that we actually measure and the impact of limited spatial resolution.