Solar Radar Observations

Abstract

Radar observations of the sun have been made extensively at decameter and low meter wavelengths (Eshleman et al., 1960, and James, 1966). Their interpretation by specular reflection on high density structures with “corner reflector” shape is unlikely from the echo spectral broadening and range depth. Gordon's (1973) interpretation of the scattering by a 4 wave interaction between radar and coronal Langmuir waves requires a level of 10⁻²nKT (thermal energy density) of the Langmuir waves. A radar experiment in microwaves with the 300 m dish in Arecibo^*) is described, which was able to test this hypothesis. It was based on the idea of scattering radar waves on Langmuir waves by the much more efficient 3 wave interaction. The echo at the beat frequency of the radar (2380 MHz) and the Langmuir wave (170 −270 MHz) is then to be expected at 2600 MHz. The results, however, show the absence of echos, from which an upper limit of 6.10⁻⁴nKT for the level of Langmuir waves is derived. First results will soon be published (Benz and Fitze, 1979).