Fine structure of type III solar radio bursts from Langmuir wave motion in turbulent plasma

Reid, H. A.S. and Kontar, E. P. (2021) Fine structure of type III solar radio bursts from Langmuir wave motion in turbulent plasma. Nature Astronomy, 5(8), pp. 796-804. (doi: 10.1038/s41550-021-01370-8)

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Abstract

The Sun frequently accelerates near-relativistic electron beams that travel out through the solar corona and interplanetary space. Interacting with their plasma environment, these beams produce type III radio bursts—the brightest astrophysical radio sources seen from Earth. The formation and motion of type III fine frequency structures is a puzzle, but is commonly believed to be related to plasma turbulence in the solar corona and solar wind. Combining a theoretical framework with kinetic simulations and high-resolution radio type III observations using the Low-Frequency Array, we quantitatively show that the fine structures are caused by the moving intense clumps of Langmuir waves in a turbulent medium. Our results show how type III fine structure can be used to remotely analyse the intensity and spectrum of compressive density fluctuations, and can infer ambient temperatures in astrophysical plasma, substantially expanding the current diagnostic potential of solar radio emission.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Kontar, Professor Eduard and Reid, Dr Hamish
Authors: Reid, H. A.S., and Kontar, E. P.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Journal Name:Nature Astronomy
Publisher:Nature Research
ISSN:2397-3366
ISSN (Online):2397-3366
Published Online:31 May 2021
Copyright Holders:Copyright © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited 2021
First Published:First published in Nature Astronomy 5(8): 796-804
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
169962Simulating Sun-Earth Solar Radio BurstsHamish ReidThe Royal Society (ROYSOC)RG130642P&S - Physics & Astronomy