The formation of G-band bright points. I: Standard LTE modelling

Assuming LTE, we synthesise solar G band spectra from the semiempirical flux-tube model of Briand Solanki (1995). The results agree with observed G-band bright-point contrasts within the uncertainty set by the amount of scattered light. We find that it is the weakening of spectral lines within the flux tube that makes the bright-point contrast in the G band exceed the continuum contrast. We also synthesise flux-tube spectra assuming LTE for the full wavelength range from UV to IR, and identify other promising passbands for flux-tube observations.