Abstract
We present measurements of radio emission from cosmic ray air showers that took place during thunderstorms. The intensity and polarization patterns of these air showers are radically different from those measured during fair-weather conditions. With the use of a simple two-layer model for the atmospheric electric field, these patterns can be well reproduced by state-of-the-art simulation codes. This in turn provides a novel way to study atmospheric electric fields.
- Received 23 January 2015
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.165001
© 2015 American Physical Society
Focus
Cosmic Rays as Thunderstorm Probes
Published 24 April 2015
Radio waves generated by cosmic rays provide an unprecedented view of the elusive electric fields in thunderstorms.
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