Regions of Generation and Optical Thicknesses of dm-Zebra Lines

Abstract

Using a new model based on the double plasma resonance (DPR), we show that the zebra structure seen in solar radio bursts is generated in the transition region and at the tops of the magnetic arcade. The magnetic field in zebra sources is probably weaker than 150 gauss. According to this model, a generation of zebras in stronger magnetic fields is improbable. The high-frequency boundary of decimetric zebras depends on the background electron plasma density, but not on the magnetic field strength in the generation regions. The bremsstrahlung absorption in atmospheric layers above the DPR zebra generation region and the cyclotron absorption in the DPR region and in the gyroresonance layers at higher altitudes limit the spectrum of zebras from both high-frequency and low-frequency sides. While the bremsstrahlung reduces the emission from the high-frequency side, the cyclotron absorption limits the low-frequency side. The observed frequency range and the number of observed zebra lines are determined not only by these absorptions, but also by appropriate distribution functions of superthermal electrons and plasma conditions in this region. Low-frequency (metric) zebra emissions can be generated at high altitudes. Computations show that such emissions can escape from the DPR generation region only at high gyro-harmonics (\(s > 10\)) and with many zebra lines.