Relativistic electron beams above thunderclouds

Relativistic electron beams above thunderclouds

Non-luminous relativistic electron beams above thunderclouds have been detected by the radio signals of low frequency ∼40–400 kHz which they radiate. The electron beams occur ∼2–9 ms after positive cloud-to-ground lightning discharges at heights between ∼22–72 km above thunderclouds. Intense positive lightning discharges can also cause sprites which occur either above or prior to the electron b...

Electron acceleration above thunderclouds

The acceleration of electrons results in observable electromagnetic waves which can be used for remote sensing. Here, we make use of ∼4 Hz–66 MHz radio waves emitted by two consecutive intense positive lightning discharges to investigate their impact on the atmosphere above a thundercloud. It is found that the first positive lightning discharge initiates a sprite where electrons are accelerated...

Energetic Charged Particles Above Thunderclouds

The French government has committed to launch the satellite TARANIS to study transient coupling processes between the Earth’s atmo­ sphere and near-Earth space. The prime objective of TARANIS is to detect energetic charged particles and hard radiation emanating from thunderclouds. The British Nobel prize winner C.T.R. Wilson predicted lightning discharges from the top of thunderclouds into spac...

Electromagnetic Radiation from Relativistic Electron Beams

These notes represent an introduction to the physics of synchrotron radiation. Such radiation is produced by relativistic electron beams being de‡ected by magnetic ...eld. Speci...cally, relativistic electron beams are injected into circular accelerators, called storage rings, where they circulate for many hours while continuously producing synchrotron radiation for the bene...t of research in ...

Stimulated Backscattering From Relativistic Unmagnetized Electron Beams