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Fundamental processes capable of accounting for the neutron flux enhancements in a thunderstorm atmosphere

  • Nuclei, Particles, Fields, Gravitation, and Astrophysics
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An Erratum to this article was published on 01 June 2014

Abstract

Elementary processes capable of producing neutrons in a thunderstorm atmosphere are analyzed. The efficiency of nuclear fusion 2H(2H, n)3He, photonuclear reactions (γ, Xn), electrodisintegration reactions n m A(e −,n) n−1 m , and reactions e −(p +, n)ν e opposite to the β-decay is evaluated. It is shown that an unrealistically strong electric field is required for the nuclear fusion to be responsible for the neutron production in the lightning channel. The generation of neutrons in a thunderstorm atmosphere is connected with photonuclear (γ, Xn) and, at a much lower degree, electrodisintegration reactions, the relativistic runaway electron avalanches being primary parent processes.

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  1. Russian Federal Nuclear Center—VNIIEF, Sarov, Nizhni Novgorod oblast, 607188, Russia

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Babich, L.P. Fundamental processes capable of accounting for the neutron flux enhancements in a thunderstorm atmosphere. J. Exp. Theor. Phys. 118, 375–383 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063776114030017

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