Photonuclear Reactions in Lightning: 2. Comparison Between Observation and Simulation Model

Abstract

During a winter thunderstorm on 6 February 2017 in Japan, photonuclear reactions such as 14 N(, n) 13 N were triggered by a downward terrestrial gamma-ray flash (TGF), as reported by Enoto et al.

Multiple Gamma‐Ray Glows and a Downward TGF Observed From Nearby Thunderclouds

“…(2020). Therefore, the time variations of count rates can be interpreted as gamma‐rays originating from neutrons generated by photonuclear reactions (Enoto et al., 2017; Wada, Enoto, Nakazawa, Odaka, et al., 2020; Wada, Enoto, Nakazawa, Yuasa, et al., 2020). The B2 event was terminated with the occurrence of the downward TGF.…”

“…The count rates decay and disappear within 100 E  ms. Its overall behavior resembles those of the simulated TGF-originated neutron signals as shown in Figure 5 of Bowers et al (2017) and Figure 9 of . Therefore, the time variations of count rates can be interpreted as gamma-rays originating from neutrons generated by photonuclear reactions (Enoto et al, 2017; Wada, Enoto, 6 of 12 Wada, Enoto, Nakazawa, Yuasa, et al, 2020). The B2 event was terminated with the occurrence of the downward TGF.…”

“…The red arrows indicate the time of the lightning discharges L1 and L2, the solid and dotted green lines the peak positions of A2 and B2 events, respectively, and the dashed magenta line shows the expected peak time at Detector B, assuming that the irradiation area of A2 moves with a thundercloud cell. Wada, Enoto, Nakazawa, Yuasa, et al, 2020). The B2 event was terminated with the occurrence of the downward TGF.…”