Plasma Frequency Radiation in Astrophysics: What We Learn from Solar Radio Observations
Abstract
Plasma frequency radiation (pfr) accounts for most of the sporadic radio emission from the sun below about one gigahertz, yet radiation from nonsolar radio sources is rarely attributed to this mechanism. Part of the difference may lie in interpretation: i.e., pfr theory is not as well-developed or as widely known as the theories of thermal or synchrotron radiation. Also, there is a tendency to categorize pfr as a solar phenomenon. In this article solar radio observations are reviewed with an emphasis on the questions which a complete pfr theory should answer, and the problems of identifying and interpreting possible pfr radio sources. Among the points discussed are the discrepancy between the observed frequency and the plasma frequency, the relation between the observed spectrum and the intrinsic spectrum, the efficiency of pfr, the effects of scattering and absorption, and some remaining gaps between the theory and interpretation of type III bursts.
- Publication:
-
Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
- Pub Date:
- August 1975
- Bibcode:
- 1975JRASC..69..162B
- Keywords:
-
- Plasma Frequencies;
- Plasma Radiation;
- Solar Radio Emission;
- Monte Carlo Method;
- Solar Spectra;
- Spectrum Analysis;
- Type 3 Bursts;
- Astrophysics