Scientists have discovered that thunderstorms can produce beams of antimatter, specifically positrons, which are ejected into space. This groundbreaking finding was revealed through observations made by NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope[1][3].
Lightning-induced antimatter production is now recognized as the third known natural process to create nuclear reactions, after cosmic ray interactions and reactions within stars.
The process begins with terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) that occur in the upper regions of thunderstorms. Strong electric fields in these areas accelerate electrons upward, causing them to interact with atmospheric molecules and emit gamma rays. Some of these high-energy gamma rays, when passing near atomic nuclei, transform into electron-positron pairs[1][5].
These newly created positrons and electrons are then propelled upward along Earth’s magnetic field lines. As they travel, they may collide and annihilate each other, producing gamma rays that can be detected by instruments like the Fermi telescope[1][3].
Summary of the process series of steps:
- Lightning emits high-energy gamma rays
- These gamma rays interact with nitrogen nuclei in the atmosphere, knocking out neutrons
- The resulting unstable nitrogen atoms break down, releasing positrons
- The positrons then collide with electrons, resulting in matter-antimatter annihilation events that release more gamma rays
This discovery represents a significant advancement in geoscience research, revealing an unexpected link between thunderstorms and antimatter production[1]. While the exact role of lightning in generating gamma rays and antimatter is still not fully understood, this finding provides new insights into the complex phenomena associated with intense thunderstorms.
Not every lightning strike produces detectable amounts of antimatter. The researchers in Japan recorded a significant event in February 2017, suggesting that while it happens, it’s not necessarily occurring with every single lightning bolt.
The observation of antimatter beams from thunderstorms opens up new avenues for studying atmospheric physics and the interaction between Earth’s atmosphere and space. It also demonstrates the capability of space-based instruments like the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope in detecting and analyzing these elusive particles.
While lightning does produce antimatter in the form of positrons, it is noteworthy that this antimatter does not significantly contribute to the antimatter present in the Van Allen belts. The Van Allen belts naturally contain small amounts of antimatter, particularly antiprotons. These antiprotons are produced when cosmic rays collide with particles in the upper atmosphere, and some are subsequently trapped by Earth’s magnetic field within the Van Allen belts.[11][12][13]
As research in this area continues, scientists hope to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind TGFs and their relationship to antimatter production in Earth’s atmosphere. This knowledge could potentially lead to new insights in fields ranging from atmospheric science to particle physics.
More Reading
[1] https://aas.org/meetings/aas217
[2] https://aas.org/meetings/aas217/videos
[3] https://astrobites.org/2011/01/14/aas-217th-meeting-2/
[4] https://aas.org/meetings/past-meetings
[5] https://aas.org/meetings
[6] https://www.space.com/10602-antimatter-beams-thunderstorms-nasa.html
[7] https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10900/
[8] https://newatlas.com/lightning-gamma-rays-antimatter/52312/
[9] https://www.science.org/content/article/scienceshot-thunderstorms-make-antimatter
[10] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171122131353.htm
[11] https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/12523/collecting-antimatter-from-van-allen-radiation-belts
[12] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Allen_radiation_belt
[13] https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-14405122