Tracking Solar Radio Bursts Using Bayesian Multilateration

Context. Solar radio bursts (SRBs), such as Type IIs and IIIs, are emitted by electrons propagating through the corona and interplanetary space. Tracking such bursts is key to understanding the properties of accelerated electrons and radio wave propagation as well as the local plasma environment that they propagate through. Methods. BELLA uses Bayesian inference to create probabilistic distributions of source positions and their uncertainties. This facilitates the estimation of algorithmic, instrumental, and physical uncertainties in a quantitative manner. Methods. BELLA uses Bayesian inference to create probabilistic distributions of source positions and their uncertainties. This facilitates the estimation of algorithmic, instrumental, and physical uncertainties in a quantitative manner. Results. We validated BELLA using simulations and a Type III SRB observed by STEREO A and STEREO B at +/- 116 degrees from the Sun-Earth line and by Wind at L1. BELLA tracked the Type III source from similar to 10-150 R-circle dot (2-0.15 MHz) along a spiral trajectory. This allowed for an estimate of an apparent solar wind speed of v(sw) similar to 400 km s(-1) and a source longitude of phi(0) similar to 30 degrees. We compared these results with well-established methods of positioning: Goniopolarimetric (GP), analytical time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA), and Solar radio burst Electron Motion Tracker (SEMP). We found them to be in agreement with the results obtained by BELLA. Additionally, the results aligned with solar wind properties assimilated by the Heliospheric Upwind Extrapolation with time dependence (HUXt) model. Conclusions. We have validated BELLA and used it to identify apparent source positions as well as velocities and densities of the solar wind. Furthermore, we identified higher than expected electron densities, suggesting that the true emission sources were at lower altitudes than those identified by BELLA, an effect that may be due to appreciable scattering of electromagnetic waves by electrons in interplanetary space.