Observational data derived from the world's largest solar telescopes are correlated with theoretical discussions in nuclear and atomic physics by contributors representing a wide range of interests in solar research.

Robert J. Rutten Sterrekundig Instituut Utrecht, The Netherlands Why this workshop? Why this workshop? Or rather, since the real question that arose about a year ago was not whether there should be another OAC workshop, but only what it should be about: why a workshop on granulation? To answer this question I will play an unfair trick on you. I will simply present the scientific justification which I included last autumn in a grant application to NATO's Scientific Affairs Division. It lists the reasons why I thought a workshop on this particular topic and at this particular moment ought to be worthwhile. There must be something in its reasoning, because NATO has indeed agreed to co-sponsor this workshop, and because all of you have decided to spend time and effort on your contributions and to journey to this beautiful island in order to participate. But since the proof is in the pudding, I am eager to see whether indeed this workshop will be as outstanding as I have promised; in the meantime, you are entitled to know what we got you here for. The justification went as follows: "The subject 'granulation' has recently become a hot topic, at the center of much new research, observational as well as interpretational and theoretical, and both in solar physics and in stellar physics.

How are large-scale magnetic fields generated in the Sun in self-excited dynamo processes? And how are magnetic structures spontaneously formed in the Sun and how do they interact with the convective flows, storage and release of magnetic energy? These are just several of the fundamental questions answered in this timely review of our understanding of solar magnetic fields. This volume collects together review articles and research papers from an international conference, held in Freiburg, Germany, dedicated to the study of magnetic fields in the Sun. From large-scale patterns and global dynamo action to tiny flux tubes, from the overshoot layer below the convection zone up to the corona, and from instrumental problems and theoretical methods to the latest ground-based and satellite observations, this volume provides an essential review of our knowledge to date for graduate students and researchers.