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Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes and neutron pulses from direct simulations of gigantic upward atmospheric discharge

  • Gravity, Astrophysics
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Abstract

Gamma-ray pulses are calculated from 2D numerical simulations of upward atmospheric discharge in a self-consistent electric field using the multigroup approach to the kinetics of relativistic runaway electrons. Thecalculated numbers and spectra of γ-rays are consistent with the data on terrestrial γ-ray flashes observed aboard spacecraft. The calculated runaway electron flux is concentrated mainly within the domain of the blue jet fluorescence. This proves that exactly this domain is a source of the γ-ray flashes. One γ-ray flash generates ∼1014-1015 photonuclear neutrons.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Russian Federal Nuclear Center VNIIEF, pr. Mira 37, Sarov, Nizhegorodskaya region, 607188, Russia

    L. P. Babich, A. Yu. Kudryavtsev, M. L. Kudryavtseva & I. M. Kutsyk

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  1. L. P. Babich
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  2. A. Yu. Kudryavtsev
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  3. M. L. Kudryavtseva
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  4. I. M. Kutsyk
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Babich, L.P., Kudryavtsev, A.Y., Kudryavtseva, M.L. et al. Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes and neutron pulses from direct simulations of gigantic upward atmospheric discharge. Jetp Lett. 85, 483–487 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0021364007100037

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0021364007100037

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