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Chromospheric-coronal coupling during solar flares: Current systems and particle accelerationTwo-dimensional (three velocity) electrostatic particle simulations are used to investigate the particle heating and acceleration associated with the impulsive phase of a solar flare. A crossfield current in the high corona (which is presumably driven by reconnection processes) is used to initiate the flare. Due to the differential motion of the electrons and ions, currents, and associated quasi-static electric fields are generated with the primary current and balancing return current being on adjacent field lines. These currents extend from the corona down into the chromosphere. Electrons can be accelerated to energies exceeding 100 keV on short time scales via the quasi-static fields and wave-particle interactions. The spectra of these electrons has a broken power-law distribution which hardens in time. The spatially separate primary and return currents are closed by the cross-field acceleration of the ambient ions into the primary current regions. These ions are then accelerated upwards into the corona by the same quasi-static electric field accelerating the electrons downwards. This acceleration can account for the broadened stationary and weak blue shifted component seen in soft x ray line emissions and enhancements in heavy ion abundances seen in the solar wind in associations with solar flares.
Document ID
19900003164
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Winglee, Robert M. (Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Mckean, M. E. (Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Dulk, G. A. (Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1989
Publication Information
Publication: NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Max '91 Workshop 2: Developments in Observations and Theory for Solar Cycle 22
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Accession Number
90N12480
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-91
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-7287
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1587
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-87-19371
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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