Radio continua modulated by waves: Zebra patterns in solar and pulsar radio spectra?

Abstract

Aims. We aim to answer the question how waves with plasma density variations affect the radio continua generated by the plasma emission mechanism. Methods. We built a simple semi-empirical model of the radio continuum modulation. Assuming that the waves with density variations are in the source of this radio continuum, we modeled the artificial radio spectrum, which we compared with observed spectra. Results. We show that the waves with density variations modulate the radio continua generated by the plasma emission mechanism. Considering a single slow magnetoacoustic wave, we model the radio spectra, which resemble solar zebra patterns. We show that this modulation generates zebra effects even when the radio continuum is composed of many spiky bursts. Generalizing from one single wave to a wave turbulence we find that the computed radio spectrum is similar to so-called lace bursts. Finally, using the same procedure, but for fast magnetoacoustic waves, we modeled the radio spectrum similar to that observed during the interpulse phase of the radio emission of the Crab Nebula pulsar.