ATMOSPHERIC GAMMA-RAY AND NEUTRON FLASHES
Babich L.P., Kudryavtsev A.Yu., Kudryavtseva M.L., Kutsyk I.M.

Received: May 3, 2007

PACS: 92.60.Pw, 52.80.Mg

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Gamma-ray pulses are calculated from 2D numerical simulations of the upward atmospheric discharge in a selfconsistent electric field using the multi-group approach to the kinetics of relativistic runaway electrons (REs). Computed γ-ray numbers and spectra are consistent with those of terrestrial γ-ray flashes (TGFs) observed aboard spacecrafts. The RE flux is concentrated mainly within the domain of the Blue Jet fluorescence. This confirms that exactly the domain adjacent to a thundercloud is the source of the observed γ-ray flashes. The yield of photonuclear neutrons is calculated. One γ-ray pulse generates -10¹⁵ neutrons. The possibility of direct deposition of REs to the detector readings and the origin of the lightning-advanced TGFs are discussed.