Strong electric discharges associated with thunderstorms can produce terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs), i.e., intense bursts of x rays and gamma rays lasting a few milliseconds or less. We present in this Letter new TGF timing and spectral data based on the observations of the Italian Space Agency AGILE satellite. We determine that the TGF emission above 10 MeV has a significant power-law spectral component reaching energies up to 100 MeV. These results challenge TGF theoretical models based on runaway electron acceleration. The TGF discharge electric field accelerates particles over the large distances for which maximal voltages of hundreds of megavolts can be established. The combination of huge potentials and large electric fields in TGFs can efficiently accelerate particles in large numbers, and we reconsider here the photon spectrum and the neutron production by photonuclear reactions in the atmosphere.

Terrestrial Gamma-Ray Flashes as Powerful Particle Accelerators

D'AMMANDO, FILIPPO;
2011

Abstract

Strong electric discharges associated with thunderstorms can produce terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs), i.e., intense bursts of x rays and gamma rays lasting a few milliseconds or less. We present in this Letter new TGF timing and spectral data based on the observations of the Italian Space Agency AGILE satellite. We determine that the TGF emission above 10 MeV has a significant power-law spectral component reaching energies up to 100 MeV. These results challenge TGF theoretical models based on runaway electron acceleration. The TGF discharge electric field accelerates particles over the large distances for which maximal voltages of hundreds of megavolts can be established. The combination of huge potentials and large electric fields in TGFs can efficiently accelerate particles in large numbers, and we reconsider here the photon spectrum and the neutron production by photonuclear reactions in the atmosphere.
2011
Tavani M; Marisaldi M; Labanti C; Fuschino F; Argan A; Trois A; Giommi P; Colafrancesco S; Pittori C; Palma F; Trifoglio M; Gianotti F; Bulgarelli A; Vittorini V; Verrecchia F; Salotti L; Barbiellini G; Caraveo P; Cattaneo PW; Chen A; Contessi T; Costa E; DAmmando F; Del Monte E; De Paris G; Di Cocco G; Di Persio G; Donnarumma I; Evangelista Y; Feroci M; Ferrari A; Galli M; Giuliani A; Giusti M; Lapshov I; Lazzarotto F; Lipari P; Longo F; Mereghetti S; Morelli E; Moretti E; Morselli A; Pacciani L; Pellizzoni A; Perotti F; Piano G; Picozza P; Pilia M; Pucella G; Prest M; Rapisarda M; Rappoldi A; Rossi E; Rubini A; Sabatini S; Scalise E; Soffitta P; Striani E; Vallazza E; Vercellone S; Zambra A; Zanello D
File in questo prodotto:
Eventuali allegati, non sono esposti

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/595778
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 162
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 140
social impact