Searching Signals in Chinese Ancient Records for the $^{14}$C Increases in AD 774-775 and in AD 992-993

TL;DR

This study investigates historical Chinese records around AD 774-775 and 992-993 to identify potential optical counterparts to $^{14}$C increases, but finds no conclusive evidence, suggesting the event may have been a gamma-ray burst or similar high-energy phenomenon.

Contribution

The paper provides a detailed search of Chinese historical texts for optical evidence of high-energy events linked to $^{14}$C increases, proposing possible non-optical sources like gamma-ray bursts.

Findings

No historical optical records of significant events around AD 774-775 and 992-993.

A violent thunderstorm was recorded in AD 775 but unlikely to explain the $^{14}$C increase.

The event likely had no optical counterpart, pointing to gamma-ray or terrestrial high-energy phenomena.

Abstract

According to the analysis of the $^{14}$C content of two Japanese trees over a period of approximately 3000 years at high time resolution, Miyake (2012) found a rapid increase at AD 774-775 and later on at AD 992-993 (Miyake 2013). This corresponds to a high-energy event happened within one year that input $\gamma$-ray energy about 7$\times{}$10$^{24}$erg to the Earth, leaving the origin a mystery. Such strong event should have an unusual optical counterpart, and have been recorded in historical literature. We searched Chinese historical materials around AD 744-775 and AD 992-993, but no remarkable event was found except a violent thunderstorm in AD 775. However, the possibility of a thunderstorm containing so much energy is still unlikely. We conclude the event caused the $^{14}$C increase is still unclear. This event most probably has no optical counterpart, and short gamma-ray burst, giant flare of a soft gamma-ray repeater and terrestrial $\gamma$-ray flash may all be the candidates.