On the Origin of Decimetric-Wave Continuum of Solar Flares
Abstract
It is shown that flare-produced fast electrons with a power-law energy distribution trapped in magnetic loops are capable to produce plasma waves at the upper hybrid frequency due to a loss-cone instability. This instability has been considered as the cause of the solar decimetric continuum which exhibits a strong temporal and spatial correlation with regions of flare-energy release and sources of microwave bursts. The strong absorption of the first harmonic in the decimeter range and also the peculiarities of the conversion of the plasma waves into electromagnetic waves yield a preference of the generation of the decimetric continuum at the second harmonic of the plasma frequency. In this case the polarization of the radiation corresponds to the ordinary wave mode in a wide cone of propagation angles around the direction perpendicular to the magnetic field.
- Publication:
-
Planetary Radio Emission IV
- Pub Date:
- 1997
- Bibcode:
- 1997pre4.conf..453Z
- Keywords:
-
- Solar radio emissions;
- Sun;
- solar flares;
- plasma waves