Fjas presentation mk1
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This document discusses a study investigating potential connections between cosmic ray events and lightning strikes. Cosmic rays are high-energy particles that interact with Earth's atmosphere and produce cascades of secondary particles. When cosmic rays interact in thunderstorms, they may liberate electrons and initiate a "runaway breakdown" process leading to lightning. The study uses lightning detectors and muon detectors to record coinciding position and time data of lightning strikes and cosmic ray impacts with nanosecond precision. Preliminary analysis of over one month of data found 12 coincidences, supporting the runaway breakdown theory. Further research is needed with expanded detector networks and data from peak lightning seasons.
Fjas presentation mk1
- 1. Troy J. Gonzalez Pine Crest School
- 2. Background- Cosmic Ray Showers Pieces of matter Mostly protons, rarely heavier nuclei 89% hydrogen (protons), 10% helium, 1% heavier elements Unknown origins Believed to originate outside the solar system Extremely high energy, travels at more than 99% of the speed of light Interact frequently with Earth and its atmosphere Cosmic rays interact (collide) with nuclei in the air (N2, O2) Produces a cascade of secondary subatomic particles Cosmic rays themselves are undetectable; instead, their secondary particles are detected, namely muons
- 3. Figure 1: Cosmic Ray Interactions With Earths Atmosphere
- 4. Background- Lightning Strong, spontaneous electric discharge Cloud to ground Ground to cloud 30 flashes per second Lightning frequency all around the world
- 5. Background- Runaway Breakdown Possible link between lighting & cosmic rays Proposed in 1992 by Alex Gurevich Cosmic rays facilitate lightning discharges in thunderstorms Cosmic ray interactions liberation of electrons Low energy electrons are accelerated to high speeds (and high energies) by electric field within thunderclouds Electrons interact with nuclei in the air and produce ions Shower of particles = chain reaction Produces a string of ionized air which facilitates the lightning discharge
- 6. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine the coincidences, if any exist, between detected lighting events and cosmic ray events.
- 7. Materials & Other Methodology Lightning detectors Records position and time (to the nanosecond) of lightning strike Antenna receives radio waves produced by lightning Muon detectors Records position and time (to the nanosecond) of muon impact Positions and times are archived for collection Simultaneous times are the only significant points Limit of significance: a few thousand nanoseconds (3000 ns) Ideal: a few hundred nanoseconds or fewer
- 8. Unit ID Time Nanoseconds Latitude Longitude Altitude 82 12/11/2012 15:38 440120450 25.640346 -80.386451 -100.44 Data, Part 1 94 94 82 12/11/2012 15:39 12/14/2012 11:47 12/14/2012 11:47 607292608 722306533 722306895 25.640349 -80.385694 25.640378 -80.385948 25.640391 -80.385639 10.19 12.56 -44.31 94 12/14/2012 11:47 699035859 25.640405 -80.385934 2.7 94 12/17/2012 13:45 695706477 25.64047 -80.38548 -31.93 82 12/17/2012 13:45 62811170 25.640099 -80.385964 25.76 The sections 94 12/17/2012 15:06 972771194 25.640545 -80.386228 -53.34 highlighted 82 12/17/2012 15:06 972771336 25.640411 -80.385334 -46.79 in the same 94 12/19/2012 11:10 178880401 25.64037 -80.385799 -19.9 color each 82 12/19/2012 11:10 178880600 25.640357 -80.385433 -39.72 stand for one 94 1/5/2013 13:12 339893576 25.640431 -80.385244 32.85 82 1/5/2013 13:12 648002021 25.640521 -80.384244 35.88 unique 82 1/10/2013 13:46 267401890 25.641375 -80.382107 102.75 coincidence. 94 1/10/2013 13:46 267401989 25.640434 -80.383277 132.17 7 1/10/2013 13:46 267402753 25.640395 -80.3862 -43.46 94 1/10/2013 13:48 242738657 25.640701 -80.381964 233.42 Altitudes are 7 1/10/2013 13:48 242739730 25.640408 -80.385917 -33.86 not relative 82 1/10/2013 13:48 242740005 25.640387 -80.385483 -92.03 to sea level; 82 1/10/2013 14:17 774170402 25.641464 -80.385757 -9.22 rather, 94 1/10/2013 14:17 774170553 25.639791 -80.386256 -25.9 relative to 94 1/10/2013 15:07 43034505 25.640359 -80.385653 -23.26 the geoid 82 1/10/2013 15:07 438586604 25.641581 -80.387095 -29.25 surface. 94 1/10/2013 15:08 94202652 25.640427 -80.385628 -25.06 That is why 82 1/10/2013 15:08 94203340 25.640995 -80.386328 -188.87 many 94 1/10/2013 15:08 423612958 25.640417 -80.385676 -30.8 82 1/10/2013 15:08 423613905 25.641001 -80.386683 -188.05 altitudes are
- 9. Figure 2: Comparison Between Earth As A Spheroid & Geoid Reference
- 10. Discussion- Data Many coincidences detected; appears to support Runaway Breakdown Over 1 month period, 12 coincidences December-January non-ideal months for lightning Work in progress; data preliminary
- 11. Future Research Wait for more lightning; calibrate lightning detectors Northern Hemisphere; spring & summer Must reliably trigger within the narrow time window mentioned previously Network of lightning detectors to be used in conjunction with cosmic ray detectors Hyperbolic multilateration
- 12. References http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/dick/cos_encyc.html http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/particles/piondec.html http://www.mpi-hd.mpg.de/hfm/CosmicRay/Showers.html Lightning: Physics & Effects Alexander P. Guverich, Kirill P. Zybin (2005) Runaway Breakdown And The Mysteries Of Lightning JI Metcalf (1989) Radar Detection Of Lightning And Electric Fields Alice Hong (2000) Dielectric Strength Of Air http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2000/AliceHong.shtml Multiple Contributors (unknown date) What Are Cosmic Rays? http://www.cosmicray.com/ http://www.unavco.org/edu_outreach/tutorial/geoidcorr.html