A semi-kinetic model of wave-ion interaction in the solar corona

A semi-kinetic model of the ions in the solar corona is presented, which in cludes the effects of wave-particle interactions and Coulomb collisions. At the coronal base a spectrum of Alfven waves is assumed. The spatiotemporal evolution of the spectrum in a 2-D computational domain is determined, tak ing the absorption of the waves by the particles into account. Integration over the velocity components perpendicular to the magnetic field yields "re duced" velocity distribution functions, for which a Vlasov equation is deri ved and solved numerically. The results obtained for a model of the heating process in a coronal funnel and in the lower corona are presented. The cal culated velocity distribution functions show distinct kinetic effects and r eflect key properties of the corona as observed by SOHO.