2023/06/05 by Alexander Sedelnikov, Sedelnikov, Alexander, Egor Stadnichuk +7
Environmental Science · Physics and Astronomy · #86-10 #Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics (physics.ao-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Fire effects on ecosystems #Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics #Lightning and Electromagnetic Phenomena #Plasma Physics (physics.plasm-ph)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2306.03059
openalex publication_date 2023/06/05 · openalex created_date 2023/06/07 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) are commonly associated with relativistic runaway electron avalanches (RREAs). However, research shows that a single RREA cannot generate observable TGF fluxes. In an attempt to settle this issue the relativistic feedback mechanism was suggested by Joseph Dwyer. The Monte Carlo simulations and analytical descriptions of this type of feedback assume that acceleration region has a large size in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the electric field. Therefore these studies do not take into account transverse diffusion of RREAs starting points and the finite transverse size of the accelerating region. Electrons created by the feedback outside this region can not be accelerated by the electric field and form an avalanche, which may lead to a decrease in the total number of new avalanches and an increase in the requirements for self-sustaining RREA production by the feedback. In this article the transverse propagation of avalanches starting points was described using a modified two-dimensional diffusion equation. A correction to the criterion for self-sustaining production of RREAs was obtained. Monte Carlo simulation was also performed to calculate the correction for the feedback coefficient.