How can we simulate ionizing radiation at aviation altitudes from TGFs?

¹ Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Science, Czech Republic
² Technische Universität Wien, Atominstitut, Vienna, Austria
³ Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic
⁴ Institute of Experimental Physics of the SAS, Kosice, Slovakia
⁵ Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic

^* e-mail: lembit.sihver@tuwien.ac.at

Published online: 14 March 2024

Abstract

So-called thunderclouds, which are large dark clouds that are able to generate thunder and lightning, can act as natural particle accelerators, producing complex high-energy phenomena such as terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) and gamma-ray glows. These events are often described through the mechanism of relativistic runaway electron avalanches (RREAs), cascades of high-energy electrons accelerated by atmospheric electric fields. Since the energies of the RREAs are up to several tens of MeV, they can also trigger nuclear reactions with atoms of the air and in the soil while entering the ground. Although these phenomena are intriguing, their lack of precise measurement and still not completely understood origins pose a significant challenge for assessing their impact on aviation safety. This paper introduces the project Research Centre of Cosmic Rays and Radiation Events in Atmosphere (CRREAT), aimed at providing measurements of TGFs, thunderstorm ground enhancements (TGEs), and other ionizing radiation phenomena during thunderstorms, as well as at aviation altitudes, stratosphere, and low Earth orbits (LEO). The paper argues that without accurate data on the origins and physical characteristics of TGEs and TGFs, it is impossible to reliably simulate their impact on aircraft crews and passengers. The paper also mentions how the general-purpose 3D Monte Carlo (MC) code PHITS can be used for future simulations and comparisons with measurements related to ionizing radiation phenomena in the atmosphere.