On bremsstrahlung radiation of accelerated electrons in solar flares

Abstract

We have calculated the spectrum and polarization of the bremsstrahlung hard X-ray radiation produced by nonrelativistic electrons that are accelerated during a solar flare. The distribution function of accelerated electrons is taken from the self-consistent solution of the kinetic equation allowing for Coulomb collisions and an electric field of reverse current in plasma. The computed polarization of the hard X-ray polarization is shown to be appreciably lower than the value given by simplified thick-target models without considering the reverse current.