Observation of neutron bursts produced by laboratory high-voltage atmospheric discharge

TL;DR

This study reports the detection of neutron bursts produced during high-voltage atmospheric discharges, using two independent detection methods, revealing neutron energies from thermal to above 10 MeV with significant flux.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of neutron production in laboratory high-voltage discharges using dual detection techniques, advancing understanding of atmospheric discharge phenomena.

Findings

Neutron bursts are observed during high-voltage discharges.

Neutrons have energies from thermal to over 10 MeV.

Neutron flux exceeds 1 million per shot into 4π solid angle.

Abstract

Data on the observation of neutron bursts in the process of high-voltage discharge in the air at an average electric field strength ~ 1 MV/m and discharge current ~ 10 kA are presented. Two independent methods (CR-39 track detectors and plastic scintillation detectors) registered neutrons within the range from thermal energies up to the energies above 10 MeV with the flux of >= 1E6 neutrons per shot into 4{\pi} solid angle.