Gamgamma storms stronger than expected

2011/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Fisika

A study conducted at the Italian Space Agency reveals that gamma rays that occur occasionally in electrical storms are much more energetic than previously thought. In fact, it has been proven that certain rays have the double energy measured in previous studies. These rays are terrestrial gamma ray bristles (gamma ray flashes) and can reach an energy of 100 MeV. For two and a half years they have devoted themselves to analyzing gamma rays produced by satellite in the AGILE mission, both on Earth and in the cosmos, and the results have been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

Researchers from the Italian Space Agency are interested in continuing to study gamma rays. Now a program is prepared to study in more detail the high atmosphere. Among other things, they intend to send a plane with a gamma-ray detector next to the storm clouds.

Scientists believe that studying gamma rays can be a way to better understand the processes that occur in storm clouds. And it is not yet clear how the rays are produced, for example. It is known that it is necessary to create great differences of potential in storm clouds. According to scientists, these differences of potential act as particle accelerators, which causes an acceleration of electrons. For electrons that go at full speed are the source of gamma rays and the origin of the first spark of rays.