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Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 255003 (2009) [4 pages]

Observation of an Energetic Radiation Burst from Mountain-Top Thunderclouds

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H. Tsuchiya1, T. Enoto2, T. Torii3, K. Nakazawa2, T. Yuasa2, S. Torii2, T. Fukuyama2, T. Yamaguchi2, H. Kato1, M. Okano1, M. Takita4, and K. Makishima1,2
1Cosmic Radiation Laboratory, Riken, 2-1, Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
2Department of Physics, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
3Tsuruga Head Office, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 2-1, Shiraki, Tsuruga, Fukui 919-1279, Japan
4Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8582, Japan

Received 24 January 2009; published 23 June 2009

See accompanying Physics Focus

During thunderstorms on 20 September 2008, a simultaneous detection of γ rays and electrons was made at a mountain observatory in Japan located 2770 m above sea level. Both emissions, lasting 90 sec, were associated with thunderclouds rather than lightning. The photon spectrum, extending to 10 MeV, can be interpreted as consisting of bremsstrahlung γ rays arriving from a source which is 60–130 m in distance at 90% confidence level. The observed electrons are likely to be dominated by a primary population escaping from an acceleration region in the clouds.

© 2009 The American Physical Society

URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.255003
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.255003
PACS:
92.60.Pw, 82.33.Xj, 93.85.−q
 
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