Quasi-linear relaxation of electrons interacting with an inhomogeneous distribution of Langmuir waves

Abstract

Quasi-linear theory, describing the diffusion of electrons in velocity space due to resonant interaction with Langmuir waves, is generalized to treat the case where the waves are distributed inhomogeneously (in ‘clumps’). The method used is a generalization of an approach developed by Morales and Lee (1974) to treat the interaction of electrons with a distribution of solitons. It is shown that quasi-linear theory, specifically the diffusion of electrons in velocity space due to resonant interaction with Langmuir waves, applies irrespective of how the waves are distributed in space, provided that an electron has multiple encounters with clumps of Langmuir waves, and that the evolution of the distribution of electrons is considered only on a time-scale long compared with the time between such encounters. This generalization of quasi-linear theory is of relevance to type III solar radio bursts, where the Langmuir waves are known to be distributed inhomogeneously, and yet the electron distribution is consistent with that expected from a balance between ballistic effects and quasi-linear relaxation.