To better understand the decay of different types of sunspots, we studied the decay of eight α-configuration sunspots by using the data that were acquired by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager on board the Solar Dynamic Observatory. We followed their decay for about four days and analyzed the evolution of their photospheric area and magnetic field parameters. We found that the area and total magnetic flux of α sunspots show a near-linear decrease during their decay. Meanwhile, the area decay rate of an individual sunspot is not constant. The area decay of a sunspot can be divided into two stages, a slow and a rapid decay process. Moreover, according to the difference of the area decay of the penumbra and umbra, the α sunspots decay can be classified in three ways: the penumbra and umbra decay synchronously, the penumbra decays first, and the umbra decays first. In addition, the flux decay of the penumbra is lagging behind the decay of the penumbral area. This finding suggests that the vertical magnetic field of the sunspot penumbra increases significantly in the early stage of sunspot decay.

为了更好地了解不同类型太阳黑子的衰变，我们利用太阳动力天文台上的日震磁成像仪获取的数据研究了八个α构型太阳黑子的衰变情况。我们跟踪了它们大约四天的衰变，并分析了它们的光球面积和磁场参数的演变。我们发现α的面积和总磁通量太阳黑子在衰变过程中表现出近乎线性的减少。同时，单个太阳黑子的面积衰减率不是恒定的。太阳黑子的面积衰减可分为两个阶段，一个缓慢衰减过程和一个快速衰减过程。而且，根据半影和本影面积衰减的不同，α太阳黑子的衰减可以分为三种：半影和本影同步衰减，半影先衰减，本影先衰减。此外，半影区的通量衰减滞后于半影区的衰减。这一发现表明，在太阳黑子衰变的早期阶段，太阳黑子半影的垂直磁场显着增加。