Generation Possibility of Gamma-Ray Glows Induced by Photonuclear Reactions

Relativistic runaway electron avalanches (RREAs) imply a large multiplication of high-energy electrons (similar to 1 MeV). Two factors are necessary for this phenomenon: a high electric field sustained over a large distance and an energetic particle to serve as a seed. The former sustains particle energies as they keep colliding and lose energy randomly; and the latter serves as a multiplication starting point that promotes avalanches. RREA is usually connected to both terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) and gamma-ray glows (also known as Thunderstorm Ground Enhancement (TGE) when detected at ground level) as possible generation mechanism of both events, but the current knowledge does not provide a clear relationship between these events (TGF and TGE), beyond their possible common source mechanism, still as they have different characteristics. In particular, their timescales differ by several orders of magnitude. This work shows that chain reactions by TGF byproducts can continue for the timescale of gamma-ray glows and even provide energetic particles as seeds for RREAs of gamma-ray glows.

Automated summary

Relativistic runaway electron avalanches involve a large multiplication of high-energy electrons, requiring a high electric field and energetic particles as seeds. This phenomenon is connected to terrestrial gamma-ray flashes and gamma-ray glows, possibly sharing a common source mechanism, but with distinct characteristics and timescales. The study shows that chain reactions from TGF byproducts can sustain gamma-ray glows and provide seeds for RREAs.