Localization of the source of terrestrial neutron bursts detected in thunderstorm atmosphere

Babich, L. P.; Bochkov, E. I.; Kutsyk, I. M.; Roussel-Dupré, R.

doi:10.1029/2009ja014750

Cited by 23 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…These neutron spectra suggest that the neutrons arriving at the observatory have a mean energy of 1-10 MeV and the maximum energy of produced neutrons is about onethird of that of the rays emitted from a source. The former feature has been reported by Carlson et al [17] and Babich et al [31] as well. Figure 7 represents spectra for rays and electrons assuming the isotropic emission of initial rays.…”

Section: B Energy Spectrumsupporting

confidence: 60%

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Observation of thundercloud-related gamma rays and neutrons in Tibet

et al. 2012

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During the 2010 rainy season in Yangbajing (4300 m above sea level) in Tibet, China, a long-duration count enhancement associated with thunderclouds was detected by a solar-neutron telescope and neutron monitors installed at the Yangbajing Comic Ray Observatory. The event, lasting for $40 min , was observed on July 22, 2010. The solar-neutron telescope detected significant -ray signals with energies >40 MeV in the event. Such a prolonged high-energy event has never been observed in association with thunderclouds, clearly suggesting that electron acceleration lasts for 40 min in thunderclouds. In addition, Monte Carlo simulations showed that >10 MeV rays largely contribute to the neutron monitor signals, while >1 keV neutrons produced via a photonuclear reaction contribute relatively less to the signals. This result suggests that enhancements of neutron monitors during thunderstorms are not necessarily clear evidence for neutron production, as previously thought.

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Section: B Energy Spectrumsupporting

confidence: 60%

“…According to Babich et al [31], a yield rate of a photonuclear neutron per one gamma ray with energies >10 MeV is 4:3 Â 10 À3 . Produced neutrons propagate in the atmosphere, attenuated by elastic and/or inelastic collisions with air nulcei.…”

Section: Neutron Production and Propagation In The Airmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observation of thundercloud-related gamma rays and neutrons in Tibet

et al. 2012

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“…However, they also found that the neutron flux in Earth orbit from an upward TGF was far too small to explain the events seen by Bratolyubova-Tsulukidze et al (2004). Babich et al (2010b) estimated neutron production for runaway avalanches in the high-field volume of a thunderstorm. While not explicitly calling this a simulation of a TGF, the simulated event duration (<3.5 ms) and derived gamma-ray flux suggest that this is essentially also a downward-TGF model.…”

Section: Interpretation Of Neutron Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, it is possible that RREA, either with or without significant relativistic feedback, acting on the ambient cosmic-ray flux could discharge the large scale thunderstorm field in such a way that local electric field enhancements occur, potentially providing a high enough field region to allow lightning to initiate, possibly with the help of hydrometeors (Dwyer 2005b;Babich et al 2011a). Figure 28 shows how RREAs can discharge the large scale field producing localized field enhancements (also see Petersen et al 2008).…”

Section: Possible Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High-Energy Atmospheric Physics: Terrestrial Gamma-Ray Flashes and Related Phenomena

2012

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It is now well established that both thunderclouds and lightning routinely emit x-rays and gamma-rays. These emissions appear over wide timescales, ranging from submicrosecond bursts of x-rays associated with lightning leaders, to sub-millisecond bursts of gamma-rays seen in space called terrestrial gamma-ray flashes, to minute long glows from thunderclouds seen on the ground and in or near the cloud by aircraft and balloons. In particular, terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs), which are thought to be emitted by thunderclouds, are so bright that they sometimes saturate detectors on spacecraft hundreds of kilometers away. These TGFs also generate energetic secondary electrons and positrons that are detected by spacecraft in the inner magnetosphere. It is generally believed that these x-ray and gamma-ray emissions are generated, via bremsstrahlung, by energetic runaway electrons that are accelerated by electric fields in the atmosphere. In this paper, we review this newly emerging field of High-Energy Atmospheric Physics, including the production of runaway electrons, the production and propagation of energetic radiation, and the effects of both on atmospheric electrodynamics.

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Numerical analysis of 2010 high‐mountain (Tien‐Shan) experiment on observations of thunderstorm‐related low‐energy neutron emissions

Babich¹,

Bochkov²,

Dwyer

et al. 2013

JGR Space Physics

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[1] The high-mountain experiment in a thunderstorm atmosphere, in which "extraordinary high flux of low-energy neutrons" was detected, is analyzed. Due to the lack of data on the radiation source, we do not analyze directly measured absolute count rates. Instead, we address the experimental configuration, namely, simultaneous measurements by shielded and unshielded helium counters, which allow a comparison of relative count rates and, thus, verifying the species of the detected radiation. Results of Monte Carlo simulations of neutron transport executed without aprioristic assumptions, using only data on the experimental configuration, have raised strong doubts as to whether the detected increases of the count rates can be attributed to neutrons. Results of simulations allowing for the neutron transport in atmosphere from distant (100-500 m) photoneutron source with spectrum in the range 0-20.1 MeV produced by relativistic runaway electron avalanche bremsstrahlung demonstrate that ratios R of the count rates of shielded and unshielded counters below 1 keV are manyfold higher than the ratios R exp ≈ 0.34-1.06 of the measured count rates. In the total range 0-20.1 MeV, the R magnitudes vary from 0.14 to 0.84 depending on the distance to the neutron source. Results of simulations of γ rays transport executed without aprioristic assumptions demonstrate that, most likely, hard γ rays with energies ε γ > 1 MeV were detected. We note that in thunderstorm environment, a selection is required of neutrons and γ rays, for which the time-of-flight technique is the most adequate.Citation: Babich, L. P., E. Bochkov, J. R. Dwyer, I. M. Kutsyk, and A. N. Zalyalov (2013), Numerical analysis of 2010 high-mountain (Tien-Shan) experiment on observations of thunderstorm-related low-energy neutron emissions,

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Localization of the source of terrestrial neutron bursts detected in thunderstorm atmosphere

Cited by 23 publications

References 37 publications

Observation of thundercloud-related gamma rays and neutrons in Tibet

Observation of thundercloud-related gamma rays and neutrons in Tibet

High-Energy Atmospheric Physics: Terrestrial Gamma-Ray Flashes and Related Phenomena

Numerical analysis of 2010 high‐mountain (Tien‐Shan) experiment on observations of thunderstorm‐related low‐energy neutron emissions

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