  Hard X-ray (HXR) spectroscopy is the most direct method of diagnosing
energetic electrons in solar flares. Here we present a technique which allows
us to use a single HXR spectrum to determine an effectively stereoscopic
electron energy distribution. Considering the Sun's surface to act as a
'Compton mirror' allows us to look at emitting electrons also from behind the
source, providing vital information on downward-propagating particles. Using
this technique we determine simultaneously the electron spectra of downward and
upward directed electrons for two solar flares observed by the Ramaty High
Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI). The results reveal surprisingly
near-isotropic electron distributions, which contrast strongly with the
expectations from the standard model which invokes strong downward beaming,
including collisional thick-target model.
