Intensity variations of showers with different zenith angle ranges during thunderstorms

• Published in: Astrophysics and space science Vol. 367; no. 3
• Main Authors: Axi, K. G., Zhou, X. X., Huang, Z. C., Huang, D. H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.03.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Amplitudes; Astrobiology; Astronomy; Astrophysics; Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Charged particles; Cosmic ray intensities; Cosmic ray showers; Cosmic rays; Cosmology; Electric field strength; Electric fields; Monte Carlo simulation; Observations and Techniques; Original Article; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Showers; Simulation; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Thunderstorms; Zenith; Shower’s zenith angle; Distance to the shower core; Cosmic ray; Thunderstorms electric field; Monte Carlo simulation
• ISSN: 0004-640X; 1572-946X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10509-022-04056-3

Monte Carlo simulations have been performed to study the effects of near-earth thunderstorms electric field on the showers with different zenith angle ranges. A vertical and uniform atmospheric electric field model is used in our simulations. The counting rates of ground cosmic rays at YBJ (located at YangBaJing, Tibet, China, 4300 m a. s. l.) are found to be associated with the strength and polarity of the electric field. The variations are also strongly dependent upon the shower’s zenith angle and the distance to shower core. During thunderstorms, when the distance to shower core is less than a certain value (4 m in −1000 V/cm and 40 m in +1000 V/cm), the counting rates decrease as the distance to shower core decreases, and the decreased amplitude becomes larger with the increasing zenith angle and electric field strength, especially for that in positive fields (i.e., fields accelerating positive charges downwards). As the distance to shower core increases, an increase of ground cosmic ray intensity occurs, and the enhanced amplitude becomes lager with smaller zenith angles. However, when the distance to shower core is large enough (320 m in −1000 V/cm and 540 m in +1000 V/cm), the enhanced amplitude increases with the increasing zenith angle as well as the rising strength of the electric field. A clear relationship between the intensity variations of the ground cosmic rays from showers with different zenith angle ranges and the distances to shower core in fields is given in this paper. Our simulation results are beneficial to understand the flux variations obtained by ground-based cosmic ray detectors with scaler mode and shower mode, as well as the acceleration mechanisms of secondary charged particles caused by an atmospheric electric field.