Collisional Diffusion and Thick-Target Energy Losses in Solar Flares -- Death to the "Low-Energy Cufoff"
Abstract
We extend previous studies of nonthermal electron transport in solar flares by including the effects of collisional diffusion on the energy loss rate of the electron distribution as a whole. We conclude that previous estimates of electron energy loss, particularly at energies E ~ 10kT or less, have been greatly overestimated. Consequently the required number of electrons at the low-energy end of the accelerated electron spectrum, and concomitantly the overall energy content in the accelerated electrons, are significantly reduced. Use of an artificially-imposed ``low-energy cutoff'' in the accelerated spectrum is therefore not only unwarranted, but also unnecessary.
- Publication:
-
AAS/AGU Triennial Earth-Sun Summit
- Pub Date:
- April 2015
- Bibcode:
- 2015TESS....130204E