Coulomb Collisions and Electron Acceleration in Sub-Dreicer Electric Fields of the Corona and Chromosphere

Abstract

Based on single-particle approximation, the peculiarities of electron acceleration by the sub-Dreicer electric field in solar atmosphere have been considered. The elastic and inelastic collisions of fast electrons with hydrogen atoms have been taken into account within the Born approximation. The rate of energy gain by accelerated electrons is inversely proportional to the mean free path of the thermal particles. Electron acceleration can be more effective in the transition region and chromosphere than in the corona. Chromospheric electrons can achieve several hundred keV energy at distances of a few tens of kilometers.