Suppression of parallel transport in turbulent magnetized plasmas and its impact on the non-thermal and thermal aspects of solar flares

Bian, N. H., Kontar, E. P. and Emslie, A. G. (2016) Suppression of parallel transport in turbulent magnetized plasmas and its impact on the non-thermal and thermal aspects of solar flares. Astrophysical Journal, 824(2), 78. (doi: 10.3847/0004-637X/824/2/78)

[img]
Preview
Text
122815.pdf - Accepted Version

348kB

Abstract

The transport of the energy contained in electrons, both thermal and suprathermal, in solar flares plays a key role in our understanding of many aspects of the flare phenomenon, from the spatial distribution of hard X-ray emission to global energetics. Motivated by recent RHESSI observations that point to the existence of a mechanism that confines electrons to the coronal parts of flare loops more effectively than Coulomb collisions, we here consider the impact of pitch-angle scattering off turbulent magnetic fluctuations on the parallel transport of electrons in flaring coronal loops. It is shown that the presence of such a scattering mechanism in addition to Coulomb collisional scattering can significantly reduce the parallel thermal and electrical conductivities relative to their collisional values. We provide illustrative expressions for the resulting thermoelectric coefficients that relate the thermal flux and electrical current density to the temperature gradient and the applied electric field. We then evaluate the effect of these modified transport coefficients on the flare coronal temperature that can be attained, on the post-impulsive-phase cooling of heated coronal plasma, and on the importance of the beam-neutralizing return current on both ambient heating and the energy loss rate of accelerated electrons. We also discuss the possible ways in which anomalous transport processes have an impact on the required overall energy associated with accelerated electrons in solar flares.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This work is partially supported by an STFC consolidated grant. Financial support by the European Commission through the “Radiosun” (PEOPLE-2011-IRSES-295272) is gratefully acknowledged. A.G.E. was supported by grant NNX10AT78G from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Bian, Dr Nicolas Horace and Kontar, Professor Eduard
Authors: Bian, N. H., Kontar, E. P., and Emslie, A. G.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Journal Name:Astrophysical Journal
Publisher:IOP Publishing
ISSN:0004-637X
ISSN (Online):1538-4357
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 The American Astronomical Society
First Published:First published in Astrophysical Journal 824(2): 78
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy
Related URLs:

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record