Corrected formula for the polarization of second harmonic plasma emission

Corrections for the theory of polarization of second harmonic plasma emission are proposed. The nontransversality of the magnetoionic waves was not taken into account correctly and is here corrected. The corrected and uncorrected results are compared for two simple cases of parallel and isotropic distributions of Langmuir waves. It is found that whereas with the uncorrected formula plausible values of the coronal magnetic fields were obtained from the observed polarization of the second harmonic, the present results imply fields which are stronger by a factor of three to four.