On the Possibility of Generating Harmonics of the Electron Plasma Frequency in the Solar Atmosphere due to Explosive Instability in a System of Interpenetrating Electron and Ion Flows

An alternative mechanism is proposed for the generation of harmonics of the electron plasma frequency due to the development of explosive instability in a system of interpenetrating electron and proton flows in the solar atmosphere. The efficiency of the new mechanism in comparison with the earlier discussed mechanisms involving multistage processes of nonlinear interaction of waves in plasma is determined. It is shown that the development of explosive instability can lead to the excitation of the second and third harmonics of the plasma frequency with comparable amplitudes.