Development of the Thunderstorm Energetic Radiation Array (TERA)

雷暴高能辐射阵列（TERA）的开发

• 批准号: 0420820
• 负责人: Joseph Dwyer
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Florida Institute of Technology
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-08-01 至 2009-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0420820&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Development; Thunderstorm; Energetic; Radiation; Array

This award will support the development of a new monitoring array for measuring energetic radiation associated with lightning. Recent observations have shown that X-rays and gamma rays are produced by lightning, through mechanisms that are not yet understood. These investigators will install an array for measuring such radiation at the International Center for Lightning Research and Testing, a facility operated by the University of Florida. The new instruments will be placed around a tower at this facility where rockets are launched to trigger lightning. The 32-element array will measure X-rays produced by dart leaders and return strokes associated with rocket-triggered (and occasional natural) lightning, and they will also monitor gamma rays and cosmic rays (which may be deflected by the high fields present in thunderstorms). Complementary measurements already made at the Center include electric and magnetic fields, electric currents, and optical emissions. The combination of existing and new sensors will provide comprehensive characterization of the electromagnetic radiation from lightning. The new instruments, like the existing Center, will be made available to outside users and visitors.Expected results from this development project include: new capabilities for characterizing the broad spectrum of electromagnetic radiation from lightning, including the poorly understood high-energy components; ability to collect observations that document the nature of the breakdown process involved when lightning is initiated and so constrain theoretical models of that breakdown process; and support for an emerging new community of scientists interested in these new phenomena. The installation of this instrument array at a widely used center for lightning research will advance the study of newly discovered and largely unexplored kinds of radiation produced by lightning and will also provide opportunities for many investigators to integrate these observations into their studies of the properties and nature of lightning.

该奖项将支持开发一种新的监测阵列，用于测量与闪电有关的高能辐射。最近的观测表明，X射线和伽马射线是由闪电通过尚不清楚的机制产生的。这些调查人员将在国际闪电研究和测试中心安装一个阵列，用于测量这种辐射，该中心由佛罗里达大学运营。新仪器将被放置在该设施的一座塔周围，火箭就是在那里发射的，以触发闪电。由32个元素组成的阵列将测量省道领导者产生的X射线，以及与火箭触发(偶尔是自然的)闪电相关的回击，他们还将监测伽马射线和宇宙射线(可能被雷暴中存在的高场偏转)。该中心已经进行的补充测量包括电场和磁场、电流和光学发射。现有传感器和新传感器的结合将提供闪电电磁辐射的全面表征。新的仪器，如现有的中心，将向外部用户和访问者开放。这一开发项目预期的结果包括：表征来自闪电的广谱电磁辐射的新能力，包括鲜为人知的高能成分；能够收集观测数据，记录闪电开始时涉及的击穿过程的性质，从而约束该击穿过程的理论模型；以及支持对这些新现象感兴趣的新兴科学家群体。在一个广泛使用的闪电研究中心安装这一仪器阵列，将推动对新发现的和大部分未探索的闪电产生的各种辐射的研究，也将为许多研究人员提供机会，将这些观测纳入他们对闪电性质和性质的研究。