THE STRUCTURES AND DIFFUSE BACKGROUND OF THE INNER CORONA FROM ECLIPSE OBSERVATIONS

The results of white light and green-line polarization measurements ta ken during the solar eclipse of July 11, 1991 are analyzed. The data f or the inner corona are interpreted in terms of an earlier proposed an alytical model. The white light brightness distribution of the hot com ponent of the corona is calculated under the assumption that the green emission line forms in dense hot elements. A background white light c omponent in the inner corona that smoothly varies with position angle can be clearly distinguished. The relationship of this background comp onent to the middle and outer coronae is briefly discussed.