Neutron bursts associated with lightning cloud-to-ground discharges

Abstract

We present experimental results of the observations of the neutron flux birsts during the nearest thunderstorms in the years of 2009-2011. The neutrons were detected on the Yakutsk station by the standard neutron monitor 24-NM-64. The electric field during the thunderstorms were measured with the electrostatic fluxmeter near the monitor. The second electrostatic fluxmeter was located at 4 km from the monitor, on the building of the institute. Both fluxmeters allow us to register lightning discharges within a radius of 10-15 km. We have used one-second resolution data for electrostatic mill. During the two storms a high-speed videos (300 fps) were recorded. Dynamic variation of electric field intensity in the case when cloud passed upon the electrostatic fluxmeter.

Hard bremsstrahlung from a high-voltage atmospheric discharge and its anisotropy

“…According to the long-term investigations of lightning events, which were carried out during the recent decades at the height of the Tien Shan mountain cosmic ray station, it was demonstrated that gamma-rays, electrons and neutrons can play a key role in the initiation and development of the atmospheric discharge [3,[10][11][12][13][14]. Similar results have been obtained in Aragats [15,16] and at other sites, both high-altitude [17] and sea-level [18,19] ones.…”

Correlations Between Secondary Cosmic Ray Rates and Strong Electric Fields at Lomnický štít

“…There may be short spikes inside the 2 min averaged count rate increases. Also, other authors indicate relations between atmospheric discharge and short time increases of neutrons (including thermal ones) at the same site (e.g., Babich et al, 2013;Kozlov et al, 2013;Martin & Alves, 2010;Starodubtsev et al, 2012;Tsuchiya et al, 2012). Recording time of each pulse, as well as anticoincidence between different channels of SEVAN, now in progress, may help in clarification.…”

Observation of hard radiations in a laboratory atmospheric high-voltage discharge

“…The first evidences of a surplus neutron radiation at thunderstorm time have been reported in [2]. In recent years, some papers discuss the possibility of neutron generation in connection with powerful lightning discharges on the basis of experimental observations made at the mountain heights at Tien Shan [3,4], Aragats [5,6], Tibet [7], so as at the sea level in MSU [8] and Yakutsk [9]. Up to date, the different physical mechanisms were being discussed for explanation of thunderstorm related neutron production, but the nature this phenomenon still remains unknown.…”