New low threshold detectors for measuring electron and gamma ray fluxes from thunderclouds

Strong electric fields inside thunderclouds give rise to enhanced fluxes of high-energy electrons and, consequently, gamma rays and neutrons. During thunderstorms at mountain Aragats, hundreds of Thunderstorm Ground Enhancements (TGEs) comprising millions of energetic electrons and gamma rays, as well as neutrons, were detected at Aragats Space Environmental Center (ASEC) on 3200 m altitude. The energy spectra of the electrons have an exponential shape and extend in energy range 2- 30 MeV. Recovered energy spectra of the gamma rays is also exponential in energy range 2-10 MeV, then turns to power law and is extending up to 100 MeV. It is of upmost importance to research energy spectra of TGE electrons and gamma rays from the lowest possible energies to clarify the shape of energy spectra and huge multiplication of the avalanche particles. The particle detectors operated at ASEC was designed for the registration of solar modulation effects and the lowering energy threshold was not of first importance. Thus, particle detectors have energy threshold of 7-10 MeV. The new generation of ASEC detectors comprises from 1 and 3 cm thick molded plastic scintillators arranged in stacks (3cm and 1cm STAND detectors) and in cubical structures surrounded thick scintillators and NaI crystals for purification of detected neutral flux (Cube 1 cm and Cube 3 cm detectors). In presented paper we describe new detectors and analyze their operational characteristics, as well as provide examples of TGE detection with new techniques.