Characteristics of the Accelerated Electrons Moving along the Loop Derived from Cyclical Microwave Brightenings at the Footpoints

Abstract

Many particles are accelerated during solar flares. To understand the acceleration and propagation processes of electrons, we require the pitch-angle distributions of the particles. The pitch angle of accelerated electrons has been estimated from the propagation velocity of a nonthermal microwave source archived in Nobeyama Radioheliograph data. We analyzed a flare event (an M-class flare on 2014 October 22) showing cyclical microwave brightenings at the two footpoint regions. Assuming that the brightenings were caused by the accelerated electrons, we approximated the velocity parallel to the magnetic field of the accelerated electrons as ∼7.7 × 104 and 9.0 × 104 km s −1. The estimated pitch angle of the accelerated electrons is 69°–80° and the size of the loss cone at the footpoint (estimated from the magnetic field strength in the nonlinear force-free field model) is approximately 43°. Most of the accelerated electrons could be reflected at the footpoint region. This feature can be interpreted as brightenings produced by bouncing motion of the accelerated electrons.