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Energetic radiation produced during rocket-triggered lightning.

Joseph R Dwyer1, Martin A Uman, Hamid K Rassoul

  • 1Department of Physics and Space Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|February 1, 2003
PubMed
Summary
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Intense radiation bursts were detected during lightning's dart leader phase. This suggests runaway electrons are crucial in lightning processes.

Area of Science:

  • Atmospheric physics
  • Plasma physics
  • Electromagnetism

Background:

  • Lightning is a complex atmospheric electrical discharge.
  • The dart leader phase precedes the return stroke in some lightning events.
  • The role of energetic particles in lightning initiation is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate energetic radiation during the dart leader phase of rocket-triggered lightning.
  • To determine if runaway electron production is significant in lightning.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a sodium iodide (thallium-activated) [NaI(Tl)] scintillation detector.
  • Deployed the detector in electrically noisy environments.
  • Measured energetic radiation bursts (>> 10 kiloelectron volts) during rocket-triggered lightning.

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Main Results:

  • Observed intense radiation bursts in 31 out of 37 measured return strokes.
  • Bursts occurred during the dart leader phase, just before or at the start of the return stroke.
  • Typical burst durations were under 100 microseconds, depositing tens of megaelectron volts.

Conclusions:

  • The findings provide strong evidence for runaway electron production during lightning.
  • Runaway electrons are likely an important process in lightning initiation and propagation.