Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) and other high-energy radiation phenomena related to thunderstorms remain incompletely understood since their discovery nearly 30 years ago. Space and ground-based platforms have provided insights, but limitations exist in temporal resolution, signal-to-noise ratios, and proximity to events. This study presents findings from a balloon-borne gamma-ray spectrometer flown into a thunderstorm over northern Mississippi on 19 June 2023. The instrument detected three distinct millisecond-duration TGF events correlated with lightning strikes. Sustained gamma-ray glows lasting up to 2 minutes were measured and tied to thunderstorm electrostatic fields. Notably, radiation was observed during a direct lightning strike to the payload. This complex 800-millisecond event reveals insights into radiation from leader propagation and return strokes. These findings from a single balloon flight demonstrate the prevalence of energetic processes within thunderstorms. Finally, the balloon platform offered an exceptional combination of temporal resolution and validation capabilities to advance the understanding of thunderstorm radiation motivating future follow-up studies.

中文翻译：

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气球伽马射线光谱仪单次飞行期间观测到的 TGF、伽马射线辉光和直接雷击辐射

自近 30 年前发现以来，地面伽马射线闪光 (TGF) 和其他与雷暴相关的高能辐射现象仍未完全被了解。太空和地面平台提供了见解，但在时间分辨率、信噪比和事件接近度方面存在局限性。这项研究展示了 2023 年 6 月 19 日飞入密西西比州北部雷暴的气球载伽马射线光谱仪的发现。该仪器检测到了三个与雷击相关的不同毫秒持续时间的 TGF 事件。测量了持续长达 2 分钟的持续伽马射线辉光，并将其与雷暴静电场联系起来。值得注意的是，在有效载荷直接遭受雷击时观察到了辐射。这个复杂的 800 毫秒事件揭示了先导传播和返回行程辐射的见解。单次气球飞行的这些发现证明了雷暴中能量过程的普遍存在。最后，气球平台提供了时间分辨率和验证功能的特殊组合，以增进对雷暴辐射的理解，从而推动未来的后续研究。