Generation of radiation in solar corona and interplanetary space by energetic electrons

Emissions of electromagnetic waves with frequencies close to the plasma frequency and/or its second harmonic have been frequently observed in the solar corona and interplanetary space. In the past, a number of theories have been put forward to esplain the generation mechanism of the observed radiation. In this paper, a new model is proposed. The essential point of the present theory is that the Langmuir waves amplified as a result of the usual beam instability can lead to two important effects: first, electrostatic waves with frequencies close to twice the plasma frequency can be excited; and second, a significant modification of the dispersion relation can occur, so that these electrostatic waves can naturally change into electomagnetic waves as they propagate in a plasma in which the plasma density decreases spatially. The latter effect is attributed to a mode couplng process. In addition to the second harmonic emission, emission at the fundamental is also briefly discussed. In this case, as in many other theories, the presence of a very low frequency electostatic wave such as the ion-acoustic wave is assumed. The emission process discussed in the present theory stresses the importance of mode coupling and conversion rather than kinetic processes such as a nonlinear wave-wave or wave-particle scattering.