Abstract
The reliability of communications reporting observations of neutron flux enhancements in thunderstorm atmosphere is analyzed. The analysis is motivated by the fact that the employed gas-discharge counters on the basis of reactions 3He(n, p)3H and 10B(n; 4He, γ)7Li detect not only neutrons but any penetrating radiations. Photonuclear reactions are capable of accounting for the possible amplifications of neutron flux in thunder-storm atmosphere since in correlation with thunderstorms γ-ray flashes were repeatedly observed with spectra extending high above the threshold of photonuclear reactions in air. By numerical simulations, it was demonstrated that γ-ray pulses detected in thunderstorm atmosphere are capable of generating photonuclear neutrons in numbers sufficient to be detected even at sea level.
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