The importance of particle beam momentum in beam-heated models of solar flares
Abstract
It is shown that, in electron heated flare models, the momentum transport in the beam itself should be incorporated in the equation of motion. For moderately intense beams, the atmospheric acceleration by the beam momentum far exceeds solar gravity, so demanding revision of hydrostatic models, and is comparable with the effect of thermal pressure gradients in hydrodynamic models. It is also pointed out that a 20 keV proton beam, of energy flux only 4 percent of the electron flux at 20 keV, would produce comparable atmospheric accelerations. The relevant expression is calculated for correction of existing flare model codes for heating by an electron beam with power law spectrum.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- January 1984
- Bibcode:
- 1984A&A...130L...5B
- Keywords:
-
- Electron Beams;
- Momentum Transfer;
- Plasma Acceleration;
- Proton Beams;
- Solar Atmosphere;
- Solar Flares;
- Computerized Simulation;
- Energy Spectra;
- Hydrodynamics;
- Radiation Pressure;
- Solar Physics