Vlasov simulations of Langmuir Electrostatic Decay and consequences for Type III observations

Abstract. The electrostatic decay enables energy transfer from a finite amplitude Langmuir to a backscattered daughter Langmuir wave and ion acoustic density fluctuations. This mechanism is thought to be a first step for the generation of type III solar radio emissions at twice the plasma frequency. The electrostatic decay is here investigated through Vlasov-Poisson simulations by considering Langmuir localized wave packets in the case Te = Tp. Simulation results are found to be in good agreement with recently reported observations from the STEREO mission of the electrostatic decay of beam-driven Langmuir waves during a type III burst.