The kinetic description of the accelerated-electron flux in solar flares

Abstract

We propose an accurate quantitative model describing the propagation of flare-accelerated electrons in the solar atmosphere. This model is based on a kinetic equation considering Coulomb collisions of accelerated electrons with thermal electrons and protons in the plasma of the solar corona and chromosphere. Using a self-consistent approach, we find the distribution function of accelerated electrons and the electric field of the reverse current balancing the electric current carried by the accelerated-electron flux. We compare our two-dimensional (in the velocity space) model with the widely used classical one-dimensional model that overlooks the reverse-current effect.