Subsecond Time Evolution of Type III Solar Radio Burst Sources at Fundamental and Harmonic Frequencies

Chen, Xingyao, Kontar, Eduard P., Chrysaphi, Nicolina, Jeffrey, Natasha, Gordovskyy, Mykola, Yan, Yihua and Tan, Baolin (2020) Subsecond Time Evolution of Type III Solar Radio Burst Sources at Fundamental and Harmonic Frequencies. The Astrophysical Journal, 905 (1). p. 43. ISSN 0004-637X

[img]
Preview
Text
2010.08782.pdf - Submitted Version

Download (1MB) | Preview
[img]
Preview
Text
2010.08782v3.pdf - Accepted Version

Download (1MB) | Preview
[img]
Preview
Text
Chen_2020_ApJ_905_43.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.

Download (2MB) | Preview
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/abc24e

Abstract

Recent developments in astronomical radio telescopes opened new opportunities in imaging and spectroscopy of solar radio bursts at sub-second timescales. Imaging in narrow frequency bands has revealed temporal variations in the positions and source sizes that do not fit into the standard picture of type III solar radio bursts, and require a better understanding of radio-wave transport. In this paper, we utilise 3D Monte Carlo ray-tracing simulations that account for the anisotropic density turbulence in the inhomogeneous solar corona to quantitatively explain the image dynamics at the fundamental (near plasma frequency) and harmonic (double) plasma emissions observed at \sim 32~MHz. Comparing the simulations with observations, we find that anisotropic scattering from an instantaneous emission point source can account for the observed time profiles, centroid locations, and source sizes of the fundamental component of type III radio bursts (generated where f_{pe} \approx 32~MHz). The best agreement with observations is achieved when the ratio of the perpendicular to the parallel component of the wave vector of anisotropic density turbulence is around 0.25. Harmonic emission sources observed at the same frequency (\sim 32~MHz, but generated where f_{pe} \approx 16~MHz) have apparent sizes comparable to those produced by the fundamental emission, but demonstrate a much slower temporal evolution. The simulations of radio-wave propagation make it possible to quantitatively explain the variations of apparent source sizes and positions at sub-second time-scales both for the fundamental and harmonic emissions, and can be used as a diagnostic tool for the plasma turbulence in the upper corona.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 360, The Sun and the Heliosphere, Solar radio emission, Interplanetary turbulence, Radio bursts, Solar radio flares
Subjects: F500 Astronomy
Department: Faculties > Engineering and Environment > Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering
Related URLs:
Depositing User: John Coen
Date Deposited: 28 Oct 2020 14:58
Last Modified: 31 Jul 2021 14:30
URI: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/44625

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics