Polarization of fundamental type III radio bursts

The fundamental of type III bursts is only partially polarized, yet all theory for emission near the plasma frequency predicts pure o-mode emission. I argue depolarization is inherent in the burst itself. The o-mode radiation is intensely scattered and mode-converted when it temporarily falls behind its own source and finds itself in the medium that is already disturbed by the electron beam. In particular, mode conversion is very efficient and yet causes only modest angular scattering at the height were _p + 0.5.The predicted minimum polarization nearly equals the polarization of the harmonic, as observed. Spike polarization is naturally explained by the earlier arrival of the scattered o-mode. Additional residual polarization depends on the refraction at the site of emission; larger beam velocities imply higher polarization, as observed, because a larger fraction of the radiation escapes without mode-conversion. The polarization at the frequencies where U-bursts reverse is of particular interest.Support is acknowledged from the NSF Solar-Terrestrial Research Program.