Optical Emissions Associated with Terrestrial Gamma-ray and Lightning Flashes at the Telescope Array Detector.
Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs) are intense bursts of gamma rays originating in Earth's atmosphere, often associated with lightning activity during thunderstorms. These flashes are believed to result from relativistic runaway electron avalanches triggered by strong electric fields. In this study, we analyze multiple TGFs observed at the Telescope Array Surface Detectors site using a suite of instruments, including a fast antenna, a Lightning Mapping Array, a high-speed camera, and a spectroscopic system. Our focus is on the time-resolved leader spectra of the optical component linked to downward TGFs, covering the 400–900 nm range during the 2022 and 2023 lightning seasons. The spectra reveal that emissions from singly ionized nitrogen and oxygen appear before and after TGF detection, while neutral emissions coincide with the TGF detection. Observations from the spectroscopic system provide valuable insights into the mechanisms driving lightning and TGF initiation and propagation. These findings highlight key optical signatures associated with TGFs, offering new perspectives on their behavior during thunderstorm activity.
DOI: 10.22323/1.501.0168
Authors: Rasha Abbasi, N. Kieu, D. Mazzucco
Institutions: Loyola University Chicago, Purple Mountain Observatory
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Funders: National Science Foundation, European Commission, National Research Foundation, National Research Foundation of Korea, University of Tokyo, Forskningsrådet om Hälsa, Arbetsliv och Välfärd, Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, RIKEN, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo
Awards: G1192106470, Analysis of Data from the Telescope Array Observatory, Study of the ultra high energy cosmic ray source evolution by detailed measurement of cosmic rays in the wide energy range, Analysis of Data from the Telescope Array Observatory, G2464845396, Quest for the unified picture of the explosion mechanism of supernovae and the central engine of gamma-ray bursts, G2908002831, Investigating the Correlation Between Lightning and High-Energy Particles in the Earth's Atmosphere, G5260365489, G5281852683, Downward Gamma Ray Showers from Natural Lightning, G5629441754, Operation of the Telescope Array Observatory, G6444257319, G6554715000, Exploring energy spectrum anisotropies in ultra-high energy cosmic rays with the Telescope Array, Operation of the Telescope Array Observatory, The Microphysics of Lightning: Observing the Optical Emission from Downward Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes, Extended Telescope Array Experiment - Nearby Extreme Universe Elucidated by Highest-energy Cosmic Rays, Baseline Support of the University of Utah Cosmic Ray Physics Group Including Analysis of Telescope Array, TALE, and TAx4 Data, Operation of the Telescope Array, TALE, and the TAx4 Expansion by the University of Utah, Extreme Phenomena in the Universe Explored by Highest Energy Cosmic Rays, Study of origins and propagation of very high energy cosmic rays with detailed measurements in the wide energy range
OpenAlex ID: W4414420479
FWCI:
Cites:
Cited by:
Related to: