CAREER: Experimental Research on the Runaway Breakdown of Air During Thunderstorms

职业：雷暴期间空气失控分解的实验研究

• 批准号: 0133773
• 负责人: Joseph Dwyer
• 金额: $ 41.1万
• 依托单位: Florida Institute of Technology
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-06-01 至 2008-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0133773&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Experimental; Research; Runaway; Breakdown

This CAREER project consists of observing x-rays, gamma rays, and energetic electrons from thunderstorms and in laboratory experiments to study the runaway breakdown of air in thunderstorm conditions. Runaway breakdown is a process in which an avalanche of high-energy electrons develops in a strong electric field, producing x-rays, gamma rays, and secondary ionization, and transporting large quantities of charge great distances. This process can occur when the energy gained by an electron accelerating in a strong electric field exceeds the energy lost by collisions. It may play a part in lightning initiation and large-scale charge transport in thunderstorms, as well as in explaining x-ray emissions from storms and transient luminous events (sprites and jets) in the high atmosphere above thunderstorms. The goals of the project are to demonstrate whether runaway breakdown occurs in the atmosphere, to test current models of the mechanism, to understand the importance of runaway breakdown in thunderstorm phenomena, and to make experimental scientific research part of every student's normal curriculum. To achieve the goals, the project includes the following work:1. Design and construction of sensitive detectors for x-ray and gamma ray emissions, as part of a senior physics laboratory course. 2. Observing x-rays, gamma rays, and energetic electrons associated with triggered lightning in collaboration with the Lightning Research Laboratory of the University of Florida, Gainesville.3. Conducting laboratory experiments with accelerating electrons in strong electric fields to investigate runaway avalanche; integrating the work into undergraduate physics labs.The project will provide the first direct evidence of the importance of the runaway electron process in air, contribute to the understanding of thunderstorms, and provide students with opportunities for instrument development and research in atmospheric physics.

该职业项目包括观察雷暴中的 X 射线、伽马射线和高能电子，并在实验室实验中研究雷暴条件下空气的失控分解。 失控击穿是在强电场中产生大量高能电子的过程，产生 X 射线、伽马射线和二次电离，并将大量电荷传输到很远的距离。 当电子在强电场中加速获得的能量超过碰撞损失的能量时，就会发生这个过程。 它可能在雷暴中的闪电引发和大规模电荷传输中发挥作用，以及解释雷暴上方高层大气中风暴和瞬态发光事件（精灵和喷射）的 X 射线发射。 该项目的目标是证明大气中是否发生失控击穿，测试当前的机制模型，了解雷暴现象中失控击穿的重要性，并使实验科学研究成为每个学生正常课程的一部分。 为实现上述目标，本项目主要完成以下工作： 1．作为高级物理实验室课程的一部分，设计和建造用于 X 射线和伽马射线发射的敏感探测器。 2. 与佛罗里达大学盖恩斯维尔分校闪电研究实验室合作，观测与触发闪电相关的 X 射线、伽马射线和高能电子。3．在强电场中进行加速电子的实验室实验，以研究失控雪崩；该项目将首次直接证明空气中失控电子过程的重要性，有助于理解雷暴，并为学生提供大气物理仪器开发和研究的机会。