An investigation of the possibility of detecting gamma‐ray flashes originating from the atmosphere of Venus

Abstract

AbstractThe Runaway Electrons Avalanche Model Monte Carlo simulation is used to study the propagation of runaway electrons and gamma‐ray flashes originating from the atmosphere of Venus, and the possibility of detecting these high‐energy gamma rays at low‐Venus orbit is also investigated. Relativistic Runaway Electron Avalanche (RREA) lengths and energy spectra at the Venus middle cloud levels have similar values to those of Earth at sea level, with a similar RREA threshold electric field (~286 kV/m). If electrified clouds in Venus make similar numbers of gamma rays as are made by thunderstorms on Earth during Terrestrial Gamma‐ray Flashes (TGFs), then the calculated gamma‐ray fluences at low‐Venus orbit (~550 km) have an approximate range of 10−3 photons/cm2 to 4 photons/cm2 for the source altitude between 58 km and 70 km. These gamma‐ray fluences are similar to those measured by spacecraft in low‐Earth orbit from TGFs. Therefore, if TGF‐like events initiate in the middle and upper clouds of Venus, they would be detectable by spacecrafts at low‐Venus orbit.