On the Possibility of Generating Harmonics of the Electron Plasma Frequency in the Solar Atmosphere due to Explosive Instability in a System of Interpenetrating Electron and Ion Flows

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new mechanism for generating harmonics of the electron plasma frequency in the solar atmosphere through explosive instability in interpenetrating electron and proton flows, potentially explaining observed plasma oscillations.

Contribution

It introduces an alternative explosive instability mechanism for harmonic generation, differing from previous multistage nonlinear wave interaction models.

Findings

Explosive instability can excite second and third plasma frequency harmonics.

The new mechanism's efficiency is comparable to existing models.

Harmonic amplitudes can reach significant levels in the solar atmosphere.

Abstract

An alternative mechanism is proposed for the generation of harmonics of the electron plasma frequency due to the development of explosive instability in a system of interpenetrating electron and proton flows in the solar atmosphere. The efficiency of the new mechanism in comparison with the earlier discussed mechanisms involving multistage processes of nonlinear interaction of waves in plasma is determined. It is shown that the development of explosive instability can lead to the excitation of the second and third harmonics of the plasma frequency with comparable amplitudes.