Skip to main content
Log in

Positron annihilation in EAS and ball lightning

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

CRAWFORD1 has suggested that the bursts of γ-ray energy that correspond to positron annihilation at rest (0.511 MeV), which have been observed by Ashby and Whitehead2, may be caused by extensive air showers (EAS) of primary energy E0 ≈ 1016 eV. We present two major objections to that hypothesis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Crawford, J. F., Nature, 239, 395 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ashby, D. E. T. F., and Whitehead, C., Nature, 230, 180 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bassi, P., Clark, G., and Rossi, B., Phys. Rev., 92, 441 (1953).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Cocconi, G., Handbuch der physik, 46/1, 215 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Segre, E., Nuclei and Particles (Benjamin, New York, 1965).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Greisen, K., Progress in Cosmic Ray Physics, 3 (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1956).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Dixon, H. E., Earnshaw, J. C., Hook, J. R., Smith, G. J., and Turver, K. E., thirteenth Int. Conf. on Cosmic Ray, Conference Papers, 4, 2473 (1973).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hayakawa, S., Cosmic Ray Physics (Wiley Interscience, New York, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

CECCHINI, S., DI COCCO, G. & MANDOLESI, N. Positron annihilation in EAS and ball lightning. Nature 250, 637–638 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/250637a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/250637a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

Navigation