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VFISV: Very Fast Inversion of the Stokes Vector for the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager

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Abstract

In this paper we describe in detail the implementation and main properties of a new inversion code for the polarized radiative transfer equation (VFISV: Very Fast Inversion of the Stokes Vector). VFISV will routinely analyze pipeline data from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) on-board of the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). It will provide full-disk maps (4096×4096 pixels) of the magnetic field vector on the Solar Photosphere every ten minutes. For this reason VFISV is optimized to achieve an inversion speed that will allow it to invert sixteen million pixels every ten minutes with a modest number (approx. 50) of CPUs. Here we focus on describing a number of important details, simplifications and tweaks that have allowed us to significantly speed up the inversion process. We also give details on tests performed with data from the spectropolarimeter on-board of the Hinode spacecraft.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. High Altitude Observatory, National Corporation for Atmospheric Research, 3080 Center Green CG-1, Boulder, CO, 80301, USA

    J. M. Borrero, S. Tomczyk, M. Kubo & H. Socas-Navarro

  2. Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Avda Vía Láctea S/N, La Laguna, 38205, Tenerife, Spain

    H. Socas-Navarro

  3. Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    J. Schou, S. Couvidat & R. Bogart

Authors
  1. J. M. Borrero
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  2. S. Tomczyk
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  3. M. Kubo
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  4. H. Socas-Navarro
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  5. J. Schou
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  6. S. Couvidat
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  7. R. Bogart
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Correspondence to J. M. Borrero.

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Borrero, J.M., Tomczyk, S., Kubo, M. et al. VFISV: Very Fast Inversion of the Stokes Vector for the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager. Sol Phys 273, 267–293 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-010-9515-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-010-9515-6

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