On electron acceleration by strongly turbulent plasmas

The process of electron acceleration by collapsing Langmuir cavities is analyzed both theoretically and numerically. The method of successive ‘‘burnout’’ of the cavities is developed and realized in the framework of two-dimensional particle simulation. Both isotropic and anisotropic turbulence are considered. The computer simulation results are found to be in good agreement with developed theoretical ideas. It is shown that all dissipated energy is transferred to the small group of fast electrons. Declining according to a power law the steady-state distribution function of accelerated electrons is formed. The stretching of the tail occurs through the motion of the stationary spectrum boundary to the region of large velocities. The minimum cavity size increases and inertial range decreases in the process of acceleration.