Electron cyclotron maser instability (ECMI) in strong magnetic guide field reconnection

Abstract

Reconnection in strong current-aligned magnetic guide fields allows for the excitation of the electron-cyclotron-maser instability and emission of electromagnetic radiationfrom the electron exhaust at the {\sf X} point. The electrons in the guide field remain magnetized, with reconnection barely affected. The guide field is responsible for the asymmetric properties of the {\sf X} point and exhaust. Asymmetry in the electron population results in conditions favorable for ECMI. Fundamental mission beneath the guide field cyclotron is similar to electron hole emission discussed elsewhere. It can be treated in the proper exhaust frame, and maps the local magnetic field when moving together with the exhaust along the guide field. Many applications of this mechanism can be imagined. We propose an outline of the mechanism and discuss some of its advantages and prospects. Among potential applications are AKR in auroral physics, various types of solar radio emissions during flares, planetary emissions and several astrophysical scenarios involving the presence of strong fields and field-aligned currents. Escape of radiation from {\sf X} is no problem. However, observation from remote requires traversing the stop-band of X modes and implies source displacements to weaker fields.