Propagation of energetic electrons through the solar corona and the interplanetary medium

¹ Astrophysical Institute Potsdam (AIP), An der Sternwarte 16, 14482 Potsdam, Germany e-mail: honel@aip.de
² University of Technology Berlin, Centre of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Hardenbergstraße 36, 10623 Berlin, Germany

Received: 20 March 2006
Accepted: 26 October 2006

Abstract

Aims.The electron transport is investigated numerically after an electron transport model is deduced.

Methods.This model for electron propagation considers global electric and magnetic fields, as well as local Coulomb collisions. A new way to handle the electron's pitch angle evolution by using a binary dice within the treatment of the Coulomb scattering is introduced. The conditions in the solar plasma are represented by average and commonly used models, such that numerical simulations can be performed easily.

Results.The model for electron propagation finally obtained makes it possible to investigate how the Coulomb collisions act on the pitch angle, while electrons are transported through the solar plasma. Some chosen numerical results for different initial conditions are presented in the paper.