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| Publications [#345485] of Steven A. Cummer
Papers Published
- Marisaldi, M; Galli, M; Labanti, C; Østgaard, N; Sarria, D; Cummer, SA; Lyu, F; Lindanger, A; Campana, R; Ursi, A; Tavani, M; Fuschino, F; Argan, A; Trois, A; Pittori, C; Verrecchia, F, On the High-Energy Spectral Component and Fine Time Structure of Terrestrial Gamma Ray Flashes,
Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, vol. 124 no. 14
(January, 2019),
pp. 7484-7497 [doi]
(last updated on 2023/06/01)
Abstract:
Terrestrial gamma ray flashes (TGFs) are very short bursts of gamma radiation associated to thunderstorm activity and are the manifestation of the highest-energy natural particle acceleration phenomena occurring on Earth. Photon energies up to several tens of megaelectronvolts are expected, but the actual upper limit and high-energy spectral shape are still open questions. Results published in 2011 by the AGILE team proposed a high-energy component in TGF spectra extended up to ≈100 MeV, which is difficult to reconcile with the predictions from the Relativistic Runaway Electron Avalanche (RREA) mechanism at the basis of many TGF production models. Here we present a new set of TGFs detected by the AGILE satellite and associated to lightning measurements capable to solve this controversy. Detailed end-to-end Monte Carlo simulations and an improved understanding of the instrument performance under high-flux conditions show that it is possible to explain the observed high-energy counts by a standard RREA spectrum at the source, provided that the TGF is sufficiently bright and short. We investigate the possibility that single high-energy counts may be the signature of a fine-pulsed time structure of TGFs on time scales ≈4 μs, but we find no clear evidence for this. The presented data set and modeling results allow also for explaining the observed TGF distribution in the (Fluence × duration) parameter space and suggest that the AGILE TGF detection rate can almost be doubled.
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