HR: 15:16h
AN: AE53A-09    [Abstracts]
TI: Gamma Ray Flashes Due to Plasma Processes in the Atmosphere: Role of Whistler Waves
AU: * Milikh, G M
EM: milikh@astro.umd.edu
AF: University of Maryland, Department of Astronomy,, College Park, MD 20742 United States
AU: Sharma, S A
AF: University of Maryland, Department of Astronomy,, College Park, MD 20742 United States
AU: Guzdar, P N
EM: guzdar@ipr.umd.edu
AF: University of Maryland, Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics,, College Park, MD 20742 United States
AU: Berma, V S
EM: vberman@astro.umd.edu
AF: University of Maryland, Department of Astronomy,, College Park, MD 20742 United States
AB: In this paper a novel mechanism is identified for the generation of gamma ray flashes observed on Compton Gamma Ray Observatory satellite. In this model the relativistic electrons produced by a cosmic ray shower during a thunderstorm lead to a runaway discharge, which is maintained by the interaction with whistler waves and the relativistic electrons propagate up in ducts produced by the self-focusing of these waves. The focus of this paper is on the instability which develops in the lower stratosphere when a beam of hot magnetized electrons interacts with whistler waves. It was shown that the growth rate of such instability depends on the number density of hot electrons, and on their collision rate, and it peaks at about 25 km. The instability develops under the conditions for runaway breakdown similar to those leading to the generation of recently observed strong narrow bipolar radio pulses which indicates a possible correlation between these two phenomena. Such a correlation could be tested during a campaign involving high altitude air planes.
DE: 2407 Auroral ionosphere (2704)
DE: 2435 Ionospheric disturbances
DE: 2467 Plasma temperature and density
SC: Atmospheric and Space Electricity [AE]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting