First high-speed video camera observations of a lightning flash associated with a downward terrestrial gamma-ray flash

0576994 - FZÚ 2024 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Abbasi, R.U. - Saba, M.M.F. - Belz, J.W. - Urban, Federico … Total 143 authors
First high-speed video camera observations of a lightning flash associated with a downward terrestrial gamma-ray flash.
Geophysical Research Letters. Roč. 50, č. 14 (2023), č. článku e2023GL102958. ISSN 0094-8276. E-ISSN 1944-8007
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : ultra-high-energy cosmic rays
OECD category: Astronomy (including astrophysics,space science)
Impact factor: 5.2, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access

In this paper, we present the first high-speed video observation of a cloud-to-ground lightning flash and its associated downward-directed Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flash (TGF). The optical emission of the event was observed by a high-speed video camera running at 40,000 frames per second in conjunction with the Telescope Array Surface Detector, Lightning Mapping Array, interferometer, electric-field fast antenna, and the National Lightning Detection Network. The cloud-to-ground flash associated with the observed TGF was formed by a fast downward leader followed by a very intense return stroke peak current of −154 kA. The TGF occurred while the downward leader was below cloud base, and even when it was halfway in its propagation to ground. The suite of gamma-ray and lightning instruments, timing resolution, and source proximity offer us detailed information and therefore a unique look at the TGF phenomena.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0347939