Jm. Pryadko et V. Petrosian, STOCHASTIC ACCELERATION OF LOW-ENERGY ELECTRONS IN PLASMAS WITH FINITE-TEMPERATURE, The Astrophysical journal, 495(1), 1998, pp. 377-384
This paper extends our earlier work on the acceleration of low-energy
electrons by plasma turbulence to include the effects of finite temper
ature of the plasma. We consider the resonant interaction of thermal e
lectrons with the whole transverse branch of plasma waves propagating
along the magnetic held. We show that our earlier published results fo
r acceleration of low-energy electrons can be applied to the case of f
inite temperature if a sufficient level of turbulence is present. From
comparison of the acceleration rate of the thermal particles to the d
ecay rate of the waves with which they interact, we determine the requ
ired energy density of the waves as a fraction of the magnetic energy
density, so that a substantial fraction of the background plasma elect
rons can be accelerated. The dependence of this value on the plasma pa
rameter alpha = omega(pe)/Omega(e) (the ratio of electron plasma frequ
ency to electron gyrofrequency), plasma temperature, and turbulence sp
ectral parameters is quantified. We show that the result is most sensi
tive to the plasma parameter alpha. We estimate the required level of
total turbulence by calculating the level of turbulence required for t
he initial acceleration of thermal electrons and that required for fur
ther acceleration to higher energies.