A theory for the 2f(p) radiation upstream of the earth's bow shock

The mechanism responsible for the radiation observed near the earth bow shock at twice the plasma frequency f(p) is investigated theoretically. A model comprising two three-wave steps and involving Langmuir (L), ion-sound (S), and EM (t) waves is proposed: L + or - S yields L-prime; L + L-prime yields t. This model is shown to be consistent with observations of low-frequency S-like waves (Anderson et al., 1981), and further observational tests are suggested. A critical examination of the theory of Fung et al. (1982) is included, and it is found that an important term in the absorption coefficient was neglected. Correcting this error leads to an intrinsic theoretical brightness-temperature limit of 3 x 10 to the 9th K, well below the observed brightness temperature of the 2 f(p) radiation, about 10 to the 11th K.