Microwave signatures from a reconnecting plasma pinch, with application to loop flares

A calculation is made of microwave signature of a cylindrical plasma pinch undergoing magnetic reconnection, a process which occurs in many astrophysical situations, such as solar flares. Depending on the viewing angle and the average energy of the accelerated electrons, the microwaves from this betatron-like source show various amounts of circular polarization. The degree of polarization is shown to be frequency dependent, and the sense of polarization is sometimes reversed. The power spectrum is predicted to have several interesting properties, which can be compared with high-resolution measurements.