Large-Scale Structure of the Solar Corona Magnetic Field

The configuration of the solar corona magnetic field has been studied. Data on the position of the K-corona emission polarization plane during the solar eclipses of September 21, 1941; February 25, 1952; and August 1, 2008, were used as an indicator of the magnetic field line orientation. Based on an analysis of these data, a conclusion has been made that the studied configuration has a large-scale organization in the form of a cellular structure with an alternating field reversal. The estimated cell size was 61 degrees +/- 6 degrees (or 36 degrees +/- 2 degrees) in longitude with a latitudinal extension of 40 degrees-50 degrees in the range of visible distances 1.3-2.0 R-Sun. A comparison of the detected cellular structure of the coronal magnetic field with synoptic H-alpha maps indicated that the structure latitudinal boundaries vary insignificantly within 1.1-2.0 R-Sun. The possible causes of the formation of the magnetic field large-scale cellular configuration in the corona and the conditions for the transformation of this configuration into a two-sector structure are discussed. DOI: 10.1134/S0016793212070134