Prospects for radio detection of stellar plasma beams

TL;DR

This paper assesses the potential for detecting stellar plasma beams via radio bursts, suggesting that existing low-frequency data could reveal high-energy particle beams from Sun-like stars, despite technical challenges.

Contribution

It provides a semi-quantitative analysis indicating the feasibility of detecting stellar plasma beams through radio observations, based on solar data and theoretical estimates.

Findings

Detection of radio bursts can indicate high-energy particle beams in stars.

Existing low-frequency datasets are promising for future searches.

Technical challenges exist but detection is likely feasible.

Abstract

Violent solar eruptions are often accompanied by relativistic beams of charged particles. In the solar context, they are referred to as SPEs (Solar Particle Events) and are known to generate a characteristic swept-frequency radio burst. Due to their ionizing potential, such beams influence atmospheric chemistry and habitability. Radio observations provide a crucial discriminant between stellar flares that do and do not generate particle beams. Here I use solar empirical data and semi-quantitative theoretical estimates to gauge the feasibility of detecting the associated radio bursts. My principal conclusion is that a dedicated search for swept frequency radio bursts on second-timescales in existing low-frequency ($\nu\lesssim 10^2\,{\rm MHz}$) datasets, while technically challenging, will likely evidence high energy particles beams in Sun-like stars.