Impulsive electron acceleration to energies of tens of kT/e/ by Langmuir wave turbulence
Abstract
An expression which describes the evolution of the tail of electron distribution determined by the spatial inhomogeneity of the Langmuir wave and escape of fast electrons from the acceleration region is applied to specific situations. One case analyzed a many-current-layer model with properties for accelerating electron streams which generate type III solar radio bursts; the model shows that it can emit an electron flux of 10 to the 32nd/s, with a switch-on time of 0.05 s, and a maximum acceleration energy of 50 keV. Another problem involves a single current layer (shock wave) accelerating electrons to energies of 10 kT(e); the electrons can be additionally accelerated by a second stage process. The first (fast stage) electron acceleration to 100 to 1000 kT(e) can only result from high frequency electrostatic wave turbulence if the shock has a complex structure.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- November 1980
- Bibcode:
- 1980A&A....91...17H
- Keywords:
-
- Electron Acceleration;
- Electrostatic Waves;
- Plasma Turbulence;
- Solar Radio Bursts;
- Solar Wind;
- Tearing Modes (Plasmas);
- Electron Distribution;
- Solar Flares;
- Solar X-Rays;
- Space Plasmas;
- Spatial Distribution;
- Wave Propagation;
- Astrophysics