Combining Cherenkov and scintillation detector observations with simulations to deduce the nature of high-energy radiation excesses during thunderstorms

Bowers, Gregory S.; Blaine, William; Shao, Xuan-Min; Dingus, Brenda; Smith, David M.; Schneider, Michael; Martinez-McKinney, Forest; McCarthy, Michael P.; BenZvi, Segev; Nellen, Lukas; Fraija, Nissim

doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.100.043021

Title: Combining Cherenkov and scintillation detector observations with simulations to deduce the nature of high-energy radiation excesses during thunderstorms

Journal Article · Wed Aug 21 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Physical Review D

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.100.043021· OSTI ID:1558169

Bowers, Gregory S.; Blaine, William; Shao, Xuan-Min; Dingus, Brenda; Smith, David M.; Schneider, Michael; Martinez-McKinney, Forest; McCarthy, Michael P.; BenZvi, Segev; Nellen, Lukas; Fraija, Nissim

We present co-observations of three strong count-rate enhancements associated with thunderstorms observed over 17 April 2015 to 23 September 2015 by the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) array, and a suite of small scintillation detectors comprising the Gamma-ray Observations During Overhead Thunderstorms (GODOT) instrument. Because the HAWC array is most sensitive to ionizing radiation at high energies (>100 MeV), and the small scintillation detectors are most sensitive to ionizing radiation at low energies (3–20 MeV), we investigate using the ratio of these detector counting rates variations to infer spectral characteristics of these enhancements, and understand the physics behind these thunderstorm accelerator mechanisms. We consider two extreme mechanisms that can produce these enhancements: a point source of relativistic runaway electron avalanches (RREA), and modification of the background cosmic-ray spectrum (MOS) from an electric field profile that is everywhere below the RREA threshold. We simulate the responses of HAWC and the GODOT 12.7 cm × Ø12.7 cm NaI(Tl) scintillator and show that their ratio can discern between the two models, and that the observed thunderstorm rate enhancements are incompatible with the spectra from a point source of RREA, but consistent with our model of MOS for thunderstorm potentials within the range of –250 to 250 MV.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program

Grant/Contract Number:: 20170179ER; 89233218CNA000001

OSTI ID:: 1558169

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1569622

Report Number(s):: LA-UR-19-25406; PRVDAQ; 043021

Journal Information:: Physical Review D, Journal Name: Physical Review D Vol. 100 Journal Issue: 4; ISSN 2470-0010

Publisher:: American Physical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 10 works

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