Stokes inversion codes allow us to infer the physical properties of the solar atmosphere (temperature, magnetic field, etc.) from observations of the polarization signals in spectral lines. Until now, all inversion codes available provide those physical parameters as a function of the vertical optical depth (τ_c). Converting from τ_c to the more useful z-coordinate depends upon physical parameters such as density and pressure, that are obtained under the assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium. Pressure and density thus obtained are highly inaccurate in and around sunspots and active regions because the magnetic field breaks the assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium. Our newly developed inversion code is the first one that determines the gas pressure and density by considering the effects of the magnetic field (magnetic pressure and tension) thus providing a much more accurate conversion to z. Because of this our code can be used to determine electric currents in the solar atmosphere and...

The Solar Physics Division (SPD) of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) has awarded the 2021 Karen Harvey Prize for significant contributions to the study of the Sun early in a person's professional career to Dr. Lucia Kleint, who until very recently was leading the GREGOR telescope and the Tenerife Observatory group at KIS.