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Updated: Oct 20, 2025

Method for Recording Broadband High Resolution Emission Spectra of Laboratory Lightning Arcs
Published on: August 27, 2019
Spectral Observations of Optical Emissions Associated With Terrestrial Gamma-Ray Flashes
Matthias Heumesser1, Olivier Chanrion1, Torsten Neubert1
1National Space Institute Technical University of Denmark (DTU Space) Kongens Lyngby Denmark.
Abstract:
The Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor measures Terrestrial Gamma-Ray Flashes (TGFs) simultaneously with optical emissions from associated lightning activity. We analyzed optical measurements at 180-230, 337, and 777.4 nm related to 69 TGFs observed between June 2018 and October 2019. All TGFs are associated with optical emissions and 90% of them are at the onset of a large optical pulse, suggesting that they are connected with the initiation of current surges. A model of photon delay induced by cloud scattering suggests that the sources of the optical pulses are from 0.7 ms before to 4.4 ms after the TGFs, with a median of -10 ± 80 µs, and 1-5 km below the cloud top. The pulses have rise times comparable to lightning but longer durations. Pulse amplitudes at 337 nm are ∼3 times larger than at 777.4 nm. The results support the leader-streamer mechanism for TGF generation.
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