Particles from space are helping un

Particles from space are helping unlock a mystery on Earth: What causes lightning?

The particles are called cosmic rays. But they aren’t truly rays. Instead, they are very high-energy particles. The explosion of stars creates many of these particles, which are mainly protons.

Traveling at nearly the speed of light, cosmic rays rain down on Earth from all directions. Occasionally they strike atoms in Earth’s atmosphere. This creates a shower of new particles, which are mostly electrons. A specialized observatory based in the Netherlands tracks these showers. Called the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR), this observatory is made up of thousands of small antennas.

Those antennas detect radio waves. The electron shower created by incoming cosmic rays can emit radio waves (a type of electromagnetic radiation).


These antennas are part of the LOFAR observatory. The antennas detect radio waves emitted by showers of particles in Earth’s atmosphere.
HANS HORDIJK
Earth’s magnetic field steers these electrons. In fair weather, that field creates predictable changes in the radio waves. But LOFAR researchers now find that thunderstorms also have an effect. The electric fields inside storm clouds redirect the electrons. And this gives radio waves a new and distinct signature.

Pim Schellart and his team published details of this April 24 in Physical Review Letters. Schellart is a radio astronomer at Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

The new research is helping experts study the structure of storm clouds and the strength of electric fields within them. That electric-field buildup is behind lightning. The new cosmic-ray research can help experts understand how thunderclouds build up their tremendous electric fields, says Joseph Dwyer. A physicist, he works at the University of New Hampshire in Durham.

Cosmic rays also may play a role in causing lightning. The particles could carve out paths in the air through which an electric current might travel. That discharge of electricity creates the flash of light seen in lightning.

Schellart’s team wants to test that idea. It plans to compare the timing of cosmic ray showers and lightning strikes.

Power Words
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astronomy The area of science that deals with celestial objects, space and the physical universe as a whole. People who work in this field are called astronomers.

cosmic An adjective that refers to the cosmos — the universe and everything within it.

cosmic rays Very high-energy particles, mostly protons, that bombard Earth from all directions. These particles mostly originate outside our solar system. They are equivalent to the nucleus of an atom. They travel through space at high rates of speed (often close to the speed of light).

electric field A region around a charged particle or object within which a force would be exerted on other charged particles or objects.

electron A negatively charged particle, usually found orbiting the outer regions of an atom; also, the carrier of electricity within solids.

hypothesis A proposed explanation for a phenomenon. In science, a hypothesis is an idea that must be rigorously tested before it is accepted or rejected.

lightning A flash of light triggered by the discharge of electricity that occurs between clouds or between a cloud and something on Earth’s surface. The electrical current can cause a flash heating of the air, which can create a sharp crack of thunder.

magnetic field An area of influence created by certain materials, called magnets, or by the movement of electric charges.

nucleus Plural is nuclei. (in biology) A dense structure present in many cells. Typically a single rounded structure encased within a membrane, the nucleus contains the genetic information. (in astronomy) The rocky body of a comet, sometimes carrying a jacket of ice or frozen gases. (in physics) The central core of an atom, containing most of its mass.

particle A minute amount of something.

physicist A scientist who studies the nature and properties of matter and energy.

proton A subatomic particle that is one of the basic building blocks of the atoms that make up matter. Protons belong to the family of particles known as hadrons.

radio waves Waves in a part of the electromagnetic spectrum; they are a type that people now use for long-distance communication. Longer than the waves of visible light, radio waves are used to transmit radio and television signals; it is also used in radar.

Results (English) 3:

粒子从空间帮助揭开一个秘密：是什么原因导致地球上的闪电？

颗粒被称为宇宙射线。但他们不是真正的光线。相反，他们非常高能粒子。恒星爆炸产生了许多这些粒子，主要是质子。

加速到接近光速，宇宙射线从四面八方降落在地球上。偶尔他们也会走在地球大气中的原子。这将创建一个淋浴的新粒子，主要是电子。一个专门的天文台总部设在荷兰跟踪这些阵雨。称为低频阵列（LOFAR），这个天文台是由成千上万的小天线。

检测无线电波的天线。所来的宇宙射线产生的电子淋浴可以发射出无线电波（一种电磁辐射）。


这些天线的LOFAR天文台的一部分。天线无线电波探测到地球大气层中的粒子雨发出的。
汉斯Hordijk
地球磁场引导这些电子。在晴朗的天气，这场建立在无线电波的变化预测。但现在研究人员发现，LOFAR雷雨也有影响。在风暴云电域重定向电子。这使无线电波的一个新的和独特的签名。

PIM斯雀勒特和他的团队公布了今年四月二十四日在物理评论快报。斯雀勒特是在奈梅亨，一个荷兰Radboud大学的射电天文学家。

新的研究帮助专家研究其中的乌云和电域的结构强度。电场增强的背后是闪电。新的宇宙射线的研究可以帮助专家了解雷云建立自己的巨大电领域，Joseph Dwyer说。一个物理学家，他在达勒姆的新罕布什尔大学工作。

宇宙射线也会造成闪电发挥作用。粒子可以创业路径的空气中的电流通过它可以旅行。放电产生的光，看到闪电。

斯雀勒特团队想要测试这个想法。它计划比较宇宙射线阵雨和闪电的时机。

权力话语
（更多话语权，点击这里）
天文科学领域，与天体的研究，空间和物质的宇宙作为一个整体。谁在这个领域工作的人被称为天文学家。

宇宙，指的是宇宙的宇宙和所有的形容词。

宇宙射线的高能粒子，主要是质子轰击地球，从四面八方。这些粒子主要来源于太阳系外。他们相当于一个原子核。他们穿越空间，在高的速度（通常是以接近光速的速度）。

电场区域周围的带电粒子或物体的力会对其它带电粒子或物体。

电子带负电荷的粒子，通常发现轨道原子的外围地区；同时，在固体电的载体。

假说提出的解释的现象。在科学中，假设是一个想法，之前必须接受或拒绝

严格测试。由出现云或云的东西在地球的表面之间的电的放电触发闪电的闪光。电流会引起空气的快速加热，可创建一个尖锐的雷声。

磁场面积由一定的材料，产生的影响称为磁铁，或电荷的运动。

复数是核核。（生物学）在许多细胞结构致密的礼物。通常是一个单一的圆形结构的膜包围，细胞核含有遗传信息。（天文学）彗星的岩石体，有时携带一套冰或冷冻气体。（物理）一个原子的核心，包含了绝大部分的质量。

粒子某种微量

。物理学家科学家研究自然和物质与能量的性质。

质子的亚原子粒子，是构成物质的原子的基本构建块。质子属于粒子称为强子的家庭。在电磁频谱的一部分

无线电波；他们现在用人来进行远程通信的类型。比可见光的波长，无线电波来传输广播电视信号；也可用于雷达。