Physics – Plasma Physics
Scientific paper
May 1995
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1995georl..22.1117c&link_type=abstract
Geophysical Research Letters (ISSN 0094-8276), vol. 22, no. 9, p. 1117-1120
Physics
Plasma Physics
12
Bremsstrahlung, Electric Fields, Electron Runaway (Plasma Physics), Gamma Rays, Thunderstorms, Electrical Resistance, Friction, Glow Discharges, High Altitude Environments, Molecular Collisions
Scientific paper
Calculations indicate that regions above large mesocsale convective systems may be favorable electrical environments for the production of gamma radiation by runaway electrons in bremsstrahlung collisions. It is well known (Gurevich, 1961) that an electric field however small can accelerate an electron continuously until the electric field is larger than the oppposing force of friction. Since the force of friction is proportional to the density of air, the resistance on electron decreases with altitude. The resitance can be expressed in terms of a critical field, which is the strength the field neesd to exceed in order to initiate the runaway phenomena. The critcal field characterizing the friction is between 7 x 10(exp -15) and 15 x 10(sub -15) V-sq cm times the number density of air. Thus a reasonable electric field (500 V/m) at high altitudes results in a force that can be larger than the force of friction. The rate for producing high energy electrons by the electric fields over large thunderstorms is estimated from Gurevich's model of runaway electrons in a weakly ionized plasma. Results show that the number of gamma photons produced by the runaway electrons in the discharge volume is consistent with the data recently observed by satellite (Fishman et al., 1994).
Chang Britton
Price Colin
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