Development of the Thunderstorm Energetic Radiation Array (TERA)

该合同将支持一种新型监测阵列的开发，用于测量与闪电相关的高能辐射。最近的观察表明，x射线和伽马射线是由闪电产生的，其机制尚不清楚。这些研究人员将在佛罗里达大学运营的国际闪电研究和测试中心安装一个阵列来测量这种辐射。新仪器将被放置在发射火箭触发闪电的塔周围。这个由32个元素组成的阵列将测量飞镖引线产生的x射线，以及与火箭触发（偶尔的自然）闪电有关的回击，它们还将监测伽马射线和宇宙射线（它们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综合特性。新的仪器和现有的中心一样，将向外部用户和访客开放。该开发项目的预期结果包括：表征闪电电磁辐射广谱的新能力，包括人们知之甚少的高能成分；有能力收集观测资料，记录闪电发生时击穿过程的性质，从而约束击穿过程的理论模型；并支持对这些新现象感兴趣的新兴科学家群体。在一个被广泛使用的闪电研究中心安装这种仪器阵列将促进对新发现的和大部分未被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，将这些观测结果整合到他们对闪电特性和本质的研究中。

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.