Circular polarization of radio emission from air showers in thunderstorm conditions

Trinh T.N.G.; Scholten O.; Bonardi A.; Buitink S.; Corstanje A.; Ebert U.; Enriquez J. E.; Falcke H.; Hörandel J.R.; Mitra P.; Mulrey K.; Nelles A.; Thoudam S.; Rachen J.P.; Rossetto L.; Rutjes C.; Schellart P.; ter Veen S.; Winchen T.

doi:10.1051/epjconf/201713503002

EPJ Web of Conferences (Jan 2017)

Circular polarization of radio emission from air showers in thunderstorm conditions

Trinh T.N.G.,
Scholten O.,
Bonardi A.,
Buitink S.,
Corstanje A.,
Ebert U.,
Enriquez J. E.,
Falcke H.,
Hörandel J.R.,
Mitra P.,
Mulrey K.,
Nelles A.,
Thoudam S.,
Rachen J.P.,
Rossetto L.,
Rutjes C.,
Schellart P.,
ter Veen S.,
Winchen T.

Affiliations

Trinh T.N.G.: KVI-Center for Advanced Radiation Technology, University Groningen
Scholten O.: Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University
Bonardi A.: Department of Astrophysics/IMAPP, Radboud University Nijmegen
Buitink S.: Astrophysical Institute, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Corstanje A.: Department of Astrophysics/IMAPP, Radboud University Nijmegen
Ebert U.
Enriquez J. E.: Department of Astrophysics/IMAPP, Radboud University Nijmegen
Falcke H.
Hörandel J.R.
Mitra P.: Astrophysical Institute, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Mulrey K.: Astrophysical Institute, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Nelles A.: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Irvine
Thoudam S.: Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering, Linnéuniversitetet
Rachen J.P.: Department of Astrophysics/IMAPP, Radboud University Nijmegen
Rossetto L.: Department of Astrophysics/IMAPP, Radboud University Nijmegen
Rutjes C.: Center for Mathematics and Computer Science (CWI)
Schellart P.: Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University
ter Veen S.: Department of Astrophysics/IMAPP, Radboud University Nijmegen
Winchen T.: Astrophysical Institute, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201713503002
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 135
p. 03002

Abstract

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We present measured radio emission from cosmic-ray-induced air showers under thunderstorm conditions. We observe for these events large differences in intensity, linear polarization and circular polarization from the events measured under fair-weather conditions. This can be explained by the effects of atmospheric electric fields in thunderclouds. Therefore, measuring the intensity and polarization of radio emission from cosmic ray extensive air showers during thunderstorm conditions provides a new tool to probe the atmospheric electric fields present in thunderclouds.

Published in EPJ Web of Conferences

ISSN: 2100-014X (Online)
Publisher: EDP Sciences
Country of publisher: France
LCC subjects: Science: Physics
Website: http://www.epj-conferences.org/

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