MEPhI Institute of cosmophysics prepares for new cosmic experiment

New cosmic experiment "ALPHA-ELECTRON" is aimed at the research of physical nature of nonstationary phenomena, connected with forming and spreading of beams of high-energy electrons in the upper atmosphere above the fields of thunderstorm activity, such as sprites, blue jets, elves, and studying processes of spatial spread and time evolution of beams of accelerated electrons in the Earth magnetosphere. These unusual natural phenomena are one of the most rare and badly studied kinds of storm discharges, solving the mystery of which will allow open many secrets about the nature of electricity.

Scientific equipment, developed by scientists from the Institute of cosmophysics at the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, has high-rapid rates, which help study physical processes of duration of 1 ms and less, and big geometric factor (40 sm²×sr), which is several times higher than among similar equipment, used in current and previous experiments, that's why it doesn't have Russian and foreign analogues.

The Head of MEPhI Institute of cosmophysics Professor A.M.Galper commented that in the process of realization of the "ALPHA-ELECTRON" experiment it is planned to solve a series of tasks, connected with measuring of flows of high-energy electron flows in the Earth magnetosphere. In particular, it is planned to conduct for the first time direct recording of beams of high-energy electrons, accelerated in high-altitude electric discharges above storm clouds. Direct recording of such electron beams allows confirm the fact of presence of the process of electron acceleration in the Earth upper atmosphere. Studying of temporary profiles and energy ranges of electron beams will give the possibility to get the data about configuration, size, and dynamics of the electric field in the upper atmosphere, processes of spreading of electron beams in the Earth magnetosphere.

Along with solving main tasks conducting of this cosmic experiment will allow for the first time study possible variations of flows of high-energy electrons with typical time scale up to several microseconds.

"As such measurements haven't been conducted until present time, we can expect getting unique results, relating to solar-magnetospheric and geophysical processes, in which high-energy electrons participate," says technical work supervisor on preparation of the cosmic experiment, Deputy research supervisor of the Laboratory of MEPhI Institute of cosmophysics A.G.Batischev.

Moreover, during the experiment it is planned to conduct monitoring of familiar helio- and geophysical effects (including seismic ones) in flows of high-energy electrons with time scales of more than several seconds. The monitoring will give new results, because sensitivity of "ALPHA-ELECTRON" scientific equipment (geometric factor) is several times higher than the sensitivity of spectrometres, previously used for studying of flows of high-energy electrons ("ARINA" spectrometer aboard a spacecraft "Resource-DK" and spectrometer "VSPLESK" aboard the ISS), developed in MEPhI in 2006-2008.

More information:
AVBalakireva@mephi.ru

Provided by National Research Nuclear University