First experimental observations of neutron bursts under thunderstorm clouds near sea level

Starodubtsev, S. A.; Kozlov, V. I.; Toropov, A. A.; Mullayarov, V. A.; Григорьев, В. Г.; Moiseev, A. V.

doi:10.1134/s0021364012150106

Cited by 21 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Other measurements such as the flux of 4 × 10 −3 cm −2 /s reported by Starodubtsev et al () took into account only neutrons with energy above 10 MeV. As our results show (Figure ), neutrons with energy above 10 MeV reach the detection plane within 0.1 ms, so the flux reported by Starodubtsev et al () may be a result of multiple emissions due the integration time in their measurements.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Modeling Neutron Emissions in High Energy Atmospheric Phenomena

et al. 2018

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Neutron emissions with different durations have been observed during thunderstorms. These neutrons can be produced by microsecond to millisecond fast Terrestrial Gamma‐ray Flashes correlated with lightning, or by Gamma‐ray Glows lasting several seconds to minutes. In both cases, the neutrons are produced through a photonuclear reaction of gamma rays in the energy range of 10 to 30 MeV with nuclei of air molecules. Here we present simulations of gamma‐ray beams propagating downward from different source altitudes. In our analysis the primary photons with energies between 10 and 30 MeV are separated into four energy intervals, each of 5 MeV width. From these data, arbitrary spectra of primary photons and of their products can be composed. Our results indicate that the neutrons are created essentially along the trajectory of the primary photons and that they reach ground within a transversal area of radius below 500 m. This lateral spreading is dominated by neutron diffusion due to collisions with air molecules. A secondary longer lasting photon pulse at sea level is predicted as well by our simulations. We have introduced this Terrestrial Gamma‐ray Flash afterglow already in (Rutjes et al. 2017, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL075552). It is due to neutron capture by air molecules, and it has recently been observed by Bowers et al. (2017, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL075071) and Enoto et al. (2017, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature24630).

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Modeling Neutron Emissions in High Energy Atmospheric Phenomena

et al. 2018

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“…That thunderstorms produce neutrons is observed (Bratolyubova‐Tsulukidze et al, ; Chilingarian et al, ; Gurevich et al, ; Gurevich et al, ; Kozlov et al, ; Shah et al, ; Shyam & Kaushik, ; Starodubtsev et al, ; Toropov et al, ) and the relevant generation channels have been identified (Babich, ; Babich & Roussel‐Dupré, ; Babich, ; Babich et al, ; Fleischer et al, ) as photonuclear reactions

γ +^{14} normalN \to normaln +^{13} normalN

γ +^{16} normalO \to normaln +^{15} normalO

, and

γ +^{40} Ar \to normaln +^{39} Ar

, with threshold energies of ε N =10.55 MeV, ε O =15.7 MeV, and ε A r =9.55 MeV, respectively (Dietrich & Berman, ). The photonuclear cross section is maximal for photons of roughly 23 MeV, creating neutrons of roughly 13 MeV; for a further discussion of the energy spectrum of the neutrons, we refer to Babich et al ().…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

TGF Afterglows: A New Radiation Mechanism From Thunderstorms

Rutjes

Diniz

Ferreira

et al. 2017

Geophysical Research Letters

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Thunderstorms are known to create terrestrial gamma ray flashes (TGFs) which are microsecond‐long bursts created by runaway of thermal electrons from propagating lightning leaders, as well as gamma ray glows that possibly are created by relativistic runaway electron avalanches (RREA) that can last for minutes or more and are sometimes terminated by a discharge. In this work we predict a new intermediate thunderstorm radiation mechanism, which we call TGF afterglow, as it is caused by the capture of photonuclear neutrons produced by a TGF. TGF afterglows are milliseconds to seconds long; this duration is caused by the thermalization time of the intermediate neutrons. TGF afterglows indicate that the primary TGF has produced photons in the energy range of 10–30 MeV; they are nondirectional in contrast to the primary TGF. Gurevich et al. might have reported TGF afterglows in 2011.

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“…The first, with null result, attempt (Fleisher, ) to detect thunderstorm‐related neutrons was followed by communications claiming neutron flux enhancements in thunderstorms (Bratolyubova‐Tsulukidze et al, ; Chilingarian et al, , , , , ; Gurevich et al, ; Ishtiaq et al, ; Kuroda et al, ; Kuzhewskiĭ, ; Martin & Alves, ; Shah et al, ; Shyam & Kaushik, ; Starodubtsev et al, ). Possibly, after Libby and Lukens the neutron generation in thunderstorms was related to

d ((),, d, n) {}_{2}^{3}H normale

reactions in lightning channels (Fleisher, ; Kuzhewskiĭ, ; Shah et al, ; Shyam & Kaushik, ).…”

Section: History Of the Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In view of the shortcomings in Babich and Roussel‐Dupré () and given new experimental (Briggs et al, ; Chilingarian et al, , , , , ; Connaughton et al, ; Cummer et al, , ; Gurevich et al, ; Ishtiaq et al, ; Kelley et al, ; Kuroda et al, ; Marisaldi, Fuschino et al, ; Marisaldi, Tavani et al, ; Martin & Alves, ; Starodubtsev et al, ; Tavani et al, ; Tsuchiya et al, , , , ) and computational (Babich, ; Babich et al, , ; Babich, Bochkov, Kutsyk et al, ; Babich, Bochkov, Donskoĭ et al, ; Babich, Bochkov, Kutsyk et al, ; Babich, Bochkov, Dwyer et al, ; Babich et al, ; Carlson et al, ; Celestin, Xu, & Pasko, ; Dwyer, ; Dwyer, Grefenstette, & Smith, ; Kelley et al, ; Tsuchiya et al, ; Xu, Celestin, & Pasko, ) data on thunderstorm γ rays and neutrons, reanalyzing of the problem of the

{}_{6}^{14}C

production by thunderstorms is expedient. The new analysis is based not on a limited number of detections of thunderstorm neutrons as in Babich and Roussel‐Dupré () but on a vast amount of new data obtained from detecting of thunderstorm ground enhancements, i.e., enhanced fluxes of high‐energy electrons, hard γ rays, and neutrons on the Earth's surface, which have been copiously collected on Mount Aragats, Armenia (3250 m above sea level) (Chilingarian et al, , , , , ) and at other sites worldwide: Japan (sea level and 2770 m above sea level) (Tsuchiya et al, , , ); Tibet, China (4300 m above sea level) (Tsuchiya et al, ); Himalayas, India (2743 m above sea level) (Ishtiaq et al, ; Shah et al, ); and Tien Shan, Kazakhstan (3340 m above sea level) (Gurevich et al,…”

Section: History Of the Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Babich and Roussel-Dupré (2007) concluded that thunderstorm neutrons nowadays deposit weakly into the 14 6 C concentration on average across the globe, but locally, especially in tropics, the 14 6 C production by thunderstorms, possibly, compete with that by cosmic irradiation. In view of the shortcomings in Babich and Roussel-Dupré (2007) and given new experimental (Briggs et al, 2010;Chilingarian et al, 2010Chilingarian et al, , 2012Chilingarian et al, , 2013Chilingarian et al, , 2016Chilingarian et al, , 2017Connaughton et al, 2011;Cummer et al, 2005Cummer et al, , 2011Gurevich et al, 2012;Ishtiaq et al, 2016;Kelley et al, 2015;Kuroda et al, 2016;Marisaldi, Fuschino et al, 2010;Martin & Alves, 2010;Starodubtsev et al, 2012;Tavani et al, 2011;Tsuchiya et al, 2007Tsuchiya et al, , 2009Tsuchiya et al, , 2011Tsuchiya et al, , 2012 and computational (Babich, 2014;Babich et al, , 2008Babich, Bochkov, Donskoĭ et al, 2010;Babich, Bochkov, Dwyer et al, 2013;Babich et al, 2014;Carlson et al, 2010;Dwyer, 2008;Dwyer, Grefenstette, & Smith, 2008;Kelley et al, 2015;Tsuchiya et al, 2012; data on thunderstorm γ rays and neutrons, reanalyzing of the problem of the 14 6 C production by thunderstorms is expedient. The new analysis is based not on a limited number of detections of thunderstorm neutrons as in Babich and Roussel-Dupré (2007) but on a vast amount of new data obtained from detecting of thunderstorm ground enhancements, i.e., enhanced fluxes of high-energy electrons, hard γ rays, and neutrons on the Earth's surface, which ha...…”

Section: History Of the Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Radiocarbon Production by Thunderstorms

Babich

2017

Geophysical Research Letters

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In view of the neutron flux enhancements observed in thunderstorms, a contribution of thunderstorm neutrons to atmospheric radiocarbon (isotope 14 6 C) production is analyzed in connection with the archaeometry. Herein, estimates of neutron fluence per lightning electromagnetic pulse in regions with severe thunderstorm activity, at which a local rate of the 14 6 C production is comparable to the observed rates, are shown to be consistent with the measured magnitudes of thunderstorm neutron fluence. At present, available observations of atmospheric neutron and parent gamma ray flashes correlated with thunderstorms do not allow making final conclusions about thunderstorm contributions to 14 6 C production. For this, numerous studies of high-energy phenomena in thunderstorms are required, especially in the tropical belt where the thunderstorm activity is especially severe and where the 14 6 C production by galactic cosmic rays is almost independent of the solar activity disturbing the Earth's magnetic field shielding the Earth from cosmic rays. Plain Language Summary Decay of radiocarbon accumulated in fossil biota is widely used in archaeometry. A capture by atmospheric nitrogen nuclei of neutrons, produced by cosmic rays, is causal to the radiocarbon production. In view of that thunderstorms produce neutrons their contribution in the radiocarbon production is analyzed. In regions with severe thunderstorm activity, evaluated neutron numbers per unit area (fluence) per lightning required for a rate of the radiocarbon production by thunderstorms to be comparable to the measured rate magnitudes are consistent with the measured magnitudes of thunderstorm neutron fluence. Available data on thunderstorm neutrons and parent to them gamma ray flashes do not allow making final conclusion about the thunderstorm deposition in the radiocarbon production. For this, numerous observations are required, especially in tropics where the thunderstorm activity is extremely strong and where the radiocarbon production is almost independent of the solar activity disturbing the Earth's magnetic field shielding the Earth from cosmic rays.

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First experimental observations of neutron bursts under thunderstorm clouds near sea level

Cited by 21 publications

References 13 publications

Modeling Neutron Emissions in High Energy Atmospheric Phenomena

Modeling Neutron Emissions in High Energy Atmospheric Phenomena

TGF Afterglows: A New Radiation Mechanism From Thunderstorms

Radiocarbon Production by Thunderstorms

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