Wakefield acceleration in atmospheric plasmas: a possible source of MeV electrons
M. Array\'as, D. Cubero, R. Seviour, J. L. Trueba
TL;DR
This paper investigates how intense electromagnetic pulses can generate wakefield acceleration in atmospheric plasmas, potentially explaining the origin of MeV electrons involved in Terrestrial Gamma ray Flashes.
Contribution
It identifies conditions under which wakefield acceleration in atmospheric plasmas can produce MeV electrons, linking plasma physics to gamma-ray phenomena.
Findings
Wakefield acceleration can produce MeV electrons in atmospheric plasmas.
Conditions for effective electron acceleration are characterized.
Potential link to Terrestrial Gamma ray Flashes established.
Abstract
Intense electromagnetic pulses interacting with a plasma can create a wake of plasma oscillations. Electrons trapped in such oscillations can be accelerated under certain conditions to very high energies. We study the conditions for the wakefield acceleration to produce MeV electrons in atmospheric plasmas. This mechanism may explain the origin of MeV or runaway electrons needed in the current theories for the production of Terrestrial Gamma ray Flashes.
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