Abstract
The RELEС scientific payload of the Vernov satellite launched on July 8, 2014 includes the DRGE spectrometer of gamma-rays and electrons. This instrument comprises a set of scintillator phoswich-detectors, including four identical X-ray and gamma-ray detector with an energy range of 10 kev to 3 MeV with a total area of ~500 cm2 directed to the atmosphere, as well as an electron spectrometer containing three mutually orthogonal detector units with a geometric factor of ~2 cm2 sr. The aim of a space experiment with the DRGE instrument is the study of fast phenomena, in particular Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGF) and magnetospheric electron precipitation. In this regard, the instrument provides the transmission of both monitoring data with a time resolution of 1 s, and data in the event-by-event mode, with a recording of the time of detection of each gamma quantum or electron to an accuracy of ~15 μs. This makes it possible to not only conduct a detailed analysis of the variability in the gamma-ray range, but also compare the time profiles with the results of measurements with other RELEC instruments (the detector of optical and ultraviolet flares, radio-frequency and low-frequency analyzers of electromagnetic field parameters), as well as with the data of ground-based facility for thunderstorm activity. This paper presents the first catalog of Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes. The criterion for selecting flashes required in order to detect no less than 5 hard quanta in 1 ms by at least two independent detectors. The TGFs included in the catalog have a typical duration of ~400 μs, during which 10–40 gamma-ray quanta were detected. The time profiles, spectral parameters, and geographic position, as well as a result of a comparison with the output data of other Vernov instruments, are presented for each of candidates. The candidate for Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes detected in the near-polar region over Antarctica is discussed.
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Original Russian Text © V.V. Bogomolov, M.I. Panasyuk, S.I. Svertilov, A.V. Bogomolov, G.K. Garipov, A.F. Iyudin, P.A. Klimov, S.I. Klimov, T.M. Mishieva, P.Yu. Minaev, V.S. Morozenko, O.V. Morozov, A.S. Posanenko, A.V. Prokhorov, H. Rotkel, 2017, published in Kosmicheskie Issledovaniya, 2017, Vol. 55, No. 3, pp. 169–178.
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Bogomolov, V.V., Panasyuk, M.I., Svertilov, S.I. et al. Observation of Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes in the RELEC space experiment on the Vernov satellite. Cosmic Res 55, 159–168 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0010952517030017
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0010952517030017