Termination of Electron Acceleration in Thundercloud by Intra/Inter-cloud Discharge

TL;DR

This study observed gamma-ray emissions from a thundercloud that abruptly stopped due to intra/inter-cloud lightning, revealing how lightning activity can terminate high-energy atmospheric phenomena.

Contribution

It provides direct observational evidence linking intra/inter-cloud lightning discharges to the termination of gamma-ray glows in thunderstorms.

Findings

Gamma-ray emission lasted 75 seconds with spectra up to 20 MeV.

Termination of gamma-ray glow coincided with nearby lightning leader development.

Lightning discharge did not trigger the gamma-ray glow but terminated it.

Abstract

An on-ground observation program for high energy atmospheric phenomena in winter thunderstorms along Japan Sea has been performed via measurements of gamma-ray radiation, atmospheric electric field and low-frequency radio band. On February 11, 2017, the radiation detectors recorded gamma-ray emission lasting for 75 sec. The gamma-ray spectrum extended up to 20 MeV and was reproduced by a cutoff power-law model with a photon index of $1.36^{+0.03}_{-0.04}$, being consistent with a Bremsstrahlung radiation from a thundercloud (as known as a gamma-ray glow and a thunderstorm ground enhancement). Then the gamma-ray glow was abruptly terminated with a nearby lightning discharge. The low-frequency radio monitors, installed $\sim$50 km away from the gamma-ray observation site recorded leader development of an intra/inter-cloud discharge spreading over $\sim$60 km area with a $\sim$300 ms duration. The timing of the gamma-ray termination coincided with the moment when the leader development of the intra/inter-cloud discharge passed 0.7 km horizontally away from the radiation monitors. The intra/inter-cloud discharge started $\sim$15 km away from the gamma-ray observation site. Therefore, the glow was terminated by the leader development, while it did not trigger the lightning discharge in the present case.