Satellite Observations of Solar Radio Bursts

Abstract

Space observations of solar radio bursts have provided the following information:– From a single spacecraft:Measurements within the burst source or close to it: fundamental and harmonic type III radio emission, the corresponding plasma waves and spectra of the exciting electrons.– From a spacecraft and the earth or from two spacecrafts:A better evaluation of the influence of the ionosphere on some ground-based observations.Measurements of the beaming of the emission which yield constraints on the radiation mechanism and/or the role of coronal propagation in determining the source size and directivity (type I and III's).Measurements of the differential time delay which yield for type III:At short (m- and dam-) wavelengths, some evidence of group delays,At long (hm- and km-) wavelengths one coordinate of the source.Complete (3-dimensional) localization of the source at long wavelengths and therefore maps of the heliosphere magnetic field and electron density as well as the source size and, in the future, its polarization.The results of these observations and their interpretation are reviewed and discussed.