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Geomagnetic Deviation of Relativistic Electron Beams Producing Terrestrial Gamma Ray Flashes
Author(s) -
Celestin Sebastien,
Berge Nini L.,
Mailyan Bagrat G.,
Briggs Michael S.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9402
pISSN - 2169-9380
DOI - 10.1029/2020ja027936
Subject(s) - earth's magnetic field , physics , longitude , electric field , electron , gamma ray , magnetic field , fermi gamma ray space telescope , computational physics , lightning (connector) , astrophysics , latitude , nuclear physics , power (physics) , astronomy , quantum mechanics
In this work, we investigate the effect of the geomagnetic field on terrestrial gamma ray flashes (TGFs). Although this effect should be relatively weak for a single event, for example compared to the effect of the electric field orientation in the source region, it must be systematically present. Indeed, we show that a statistically significant excess of TGFs is detected to the east of their presumed lightning source by Fermi‐Gamma‐ray Burst Monitor (GBM). The corresponding eastward deviation is found to be likely greater than 0.1° in longitude, which is consistent with the expected effect of the geomagnetic field on relativistic runaway electron beams producing TGFs. Using analytical and numerical means, we show that the geomagnetic deviation can be used to estimate the magnitude of the electric field in TGF source regions. The electric field magnitudes we obtain are consistent with those necessary to drive relativistic runaway electron avalanches (RREAs).