Journal
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
Volume 41, Issue 20, Pages 7406-7412Publisher
AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION
DOI: 10.1002/2014GL061163
Keywords
lightning; X-rays; terrestrial gamma ray flashes; stepped leader; stepping process; ground radiation
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Funding
- NSF [AGS-1106779, AGS-0741589]
- French space agency (CNES)
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Intense and brief bursts of X-ray emissions have been measured during the stepping process of both natural cloud-to-ground (CG) and rocket-triggered lightning flashes. In this paper, we investigate theoretically the energy spectra of X-rays produced by the bremsstrahlung emission of thermal runaway electrons accelerated in the inhomogeneous electric field produced around lightning leader tips. The X-ray energy spectrum depends on the physical properties of the associated lightning leaders. Consequently, X-ray measurements can be used for diagnostics of the electrical properties of lightning stepped leaders. We report simulation results of the photon energy spectra produced by 5 and 10 MV negative CG lightning discharges that would be measured from the ground using ideal detectors. We also quantify theoretically the radial dependence of X-ray energy spectra received at ground level during the leader stepping process. Moreover, it is found that the ground radiation generated in this process is harmless to humans.
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