Theoretical Schemes for the Interpretation of Solar Polarimetric Observations: An Overview and Some New Ideas

摘要

The theoretical scheme based on the density matrix formalism, and self- consistently derived from the principles of Quantum Electrodynamics, is presently one of the most solid frameworks for the interpretation of solar polarimetric observations. This scheme has been highly successful, mainly for the interpretation of polarimetric signals that can be described in the so-called limit of complete frequency redistribution (CRD). However, it suffers from the severe limitation that partial frequency redistribution (PRD) effects cannot be accounted for. The metalevel theory can handle PRD effects, but all the attempts for its generalization to account consistently for collisions and lower-level coherences have failed. The redistribution matrix approach is very suitable for taking PRD effects into account. However, it can consistently describe only two-level atoms with unpolarized lower level. New heuristic approaches have been proposed for treating two-term atoms, but they are based on rather crude approximations and their validity and physical consistency are far from being firmly established. Some few reflections that may lead to the establishment of a self-consistent set of equations, fully derived from first principles, are put forward. These reflections are based on the introduction of the Fourier transform of the density matrix.