Periodic oscillations in the north-south asymmetry of the solar magnetic field

. We report on significant periodic variations of the magnetic activity between the north and south hemisphere of the Sun. For this purpose, we have investigated the north-south asymmetry of two solar data sets, namely the Kitt Peak synoptic Carrington rotation maps of the photospheric magnetic field (1975-2003) and monthly averaged sunspot areas (1874-2003). Using Fourier and wavelet analysis, we have found a regular pattern of pronounced oscillations with periods of 1.50 ± 0.04 yr, 1.79 ± 0.06 yr and 3.6 ± 0.3 yr in the magnetic flux asymmetry. The former two periods are related to a process which leads to a gradual shift in the excess magnetic flux from north to south or vice versa. Additional periods of 43.4 ± 7.1 yr (twice the magnetic cycle) and 320-329 days were detected in the sunspot asymmetry.