Electron acceleration in reconnecting current sheets

We present the results of charged particle orbit calculations in prescribed electric and magnetic fields motivated by magnetic reconnection models. Due to the presence of a strong guide field, the particle orbits can be calculated in the guiding centre approximation. The electromagnetic fields are chosen to resemble a reconnecting magnetic current sheet with a localised reconnection region. An initially Maxwellian distribution function in the inflow region can develop a beam-like component in the outflow region. Possible implications of these findings for acceleration scenarios in solar flares will be discussed.