  This paper extends our earlier work on the acceleration of low-energy
electrons by plasma turbulence to include the effects of finite temperature of
the plasma. We consider the resonant interaction of thermal electrons with the
whole transverse branch of plasma waves propagating along the magnetic field.
We show that our earlier published results for acceleration of low-energy
electrons can be applied to the case of finite temperature if a sufficient
level of turbulence is present. From comparison of the acceleration rate of the
thermal particles with the decay rate of the waves with which they interact, we
determine the required energy density of the waves as a fraction of the
magnetic energy density, so that a substantial fraction of the background
plasma electrons can be accelerated. The dependence of this value on the plasma
parameter alpha = omega_pe / Omega_e (the ratio of electron plasma frequency to
electron gyrofrequency), plasma temperature, and turbulence spectral parameters
is quantified. We show that the result is most sensitive to the plasma
parameter alpha. We estimate the required level of total turbulence by
calculating the level of turbulence required for the initial acceleration of
thermal electrons and that required for further acceleration to higher
energies.
