Electron Acceleration in Solar Flares and the Role of Plasma Turbulence

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This project researches the energy release and particle acceleration mechanism in solar flares. The source of flare energy is the current-carrying magnetic field, and the bulk of this energy goes into the acceleration of particles, but exactly how the energy is dissipated or accelerates particles is uncertain. Direct heating, acceleration, and production of plasma waves or turbulence are possible dissipation channels. The PI will gain insight through comparing microwave, hard X-ray and gamma-ray observations with theoretical results in a gradual process, where lower foundations of understanding will proceed to more complex situations. Specifically, he will determine (1) if the background thermal plasma particles can be accelerated efficiently, (2) how effectively the observations can be explained, and (3) what new testable predictions can be made. The project will support one graduate student, and result in an important understanding of the flare problem, as well as giving useful information about magnetospheric phenomena around the earth, other planets, compact stars, and nuclei of active galaxies.