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NEW PHYSICS FINDINGS FROM A. CHILINGARIAN AND CO-AUTHORS DESCRIBED
Physics Week
November 9, 2010
"The Aragats Space Environmental Center facilities continuously
measure fluxes of neutral and charged secondary cosmic ray incidents
on the Earth's surface. Since 2003 in the 1-minute time series we have
detected more than 100 enhancements in the electron, gamma ray, and
neutron fluxes correlated with thunderstorm activities," scientists
in Yerevan, Armenia report.
"During the periods of the count rate enhancements, lasting tens
of minutes, millions of additional particles were detected. Based
on the largest particle event of September 19, 2009, we show that
our measurements support the existence of long-lasting particle
multiplication and acceleration mechanisms in the thunderstorm
atmosphere," wrote A. Chilingarian and colleagues.
The researchers concluded: "For the first time we present the energy
spectra of electrons and gamma rays from the particle avalanches
produced in the thunderstorm atmosphere, reaching the Earth's surface."
Chilingarian and colleagues published their study in Physical Review
D (Ground-based observations of thunderstorm-correlated fluxes of
high-energy electrons, gamma rays, and neutrons. Physical Review D,
2010;82(4):3009).
For additional information, contact A. Chilingarian, Artem Alikhanyan
National Laboratory, Alikhanyan Bros 2, Yerevan 36, Armenia.
The publisher's contact information for the journal Physical Review
D is: American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, College Pk,
MD 20740-3844, USA.
From: A. Papazian
Physics Week
November 9, 2010
"The Aragats Space Environmental Center facilities continuously
measure fluxes of neutral and charged secondary cosmic ray incidents
on the Earth's surface. Since 2003 in the 1-minute time series we have
detected more than 100 enhancements in the electron, gamma ray, and
neutron fluxes correlated with thunderstorm activities," scientists
in Yerevan, Armenia report.
"During the periods of the count rate enhancements, lasting tens
of minutes, millions of additional particles were detected. Based
on the largest particle event of September 19, 2009, we show that
our measurements support the existence of long-lasting particle
multiplication and acceleration mechanisms in the thunderstorm
atmosphere," wrote A. Chilingarian and colleagues.
The researchers concluded: "For the first time we present the energy
spectra of electrons and gamma rays from the particle avalanches
produced in the thunderstorm atmosphere, reaching the Earth's surface."
Chilingarian and colleagues published their study in Physical Review
D (Ground-based observations of thunderstorm-correlated fluxes of
high-energy electrons, gamma rays, and neutrons. Physical Review D,
2010;82(4):3009).
For additional information, contact A. Chilingarian, Artem Alikhanyan
National Laboratory, Alikhanyan Bros 2, Yerevan 36, Armenia.
The publisher's contact information for the journal Physical Review
D is: American Physical Society, One Physics Ellipse, College Pk,
MD 20740-3844, USA.
From: A. Papazian