Comparative study of the loss cone-driven instabilities in the low solar corona

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (107) References (30) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Comparative study of the loss cone-driven instabilities in the low solar corona Sharma, R. R. ; Vlahos, L. Abstract A comparative study of the loss cone-driven instabilities in the low solar corona is undertaken. The instabilities considered are the electron cyclotron maser, the whistler, and the electrostatic upper hybrid. It is shown that the first-harmonic extraordinary mode of the electron cyclotron maser instability is the fastest growing mode for strong magnetized plasma (the ratio of plasma frequency to cyclotron frequency being less than 0.35). For values of the ratio between 0.35 and 1.0, the first-harmonic ordinary mode of the electron cyclotron maser instability dominates the emission. For ratio values greater than 1.0, no direct electromagnetic radiation is expected since other instabilities, which do not escape directly, saturate the electron cyclotron maser (the whistler or the electrostatic upper hybrid waves). It is also shown that the second-harmonic electron cyclotron maser emission never grows to an appreciable level. Thus, it is suggested that the electron cyclotron maser instability can be the explanation for the escape of the first harmonic from a flaring loop. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: May 1984 DOI: 10.1086/162006 Bibcode: 1984ApJ...280..405S Keywords: Magnetohydrodynamic Stability; Masers; Plasma Loss; Solar Corona; Solar Flares; Solar Radio Emission; Electron Cyclotron Heating; Electrostatic Waves; Harmonic Radiation; Solar Physics; Whistlers; Solar Physics full text sources ADS |