Stratospheric discharges during solar gamma flares

It is known that specifics of angle distribution of recoiling electrons being generated at the Compton scattering process of the gamma quanta (electrons flight angles spectrum is [0,180 deg.]) creates favourable conditions for the production of after-collision electron flux along the original direction of the gamma quanta motion, which means that electric current is initiated. The weak values of the gamma ray fluxes from sources in space made difficult the geophysical applications of this concept. However, recent investigations have shown that taking into consideration the real variations of the energy spectrum of space gamma rays may increase significantly the impact of the weak stratosphere currents on the parameters of the global atmosphere-ionosphere electric circuit. Earlier, this theoretical model has been used as a possible basis of the direct driven mechanism of development of the large-scale geomagnetic oscillations during solar gamma flares. This paper emphasizes the storage-release aspect of the stratosphere currents occurring in the light of the corresponding electric field generation and discusses the probability of electric breakdown at the sub-ionosphere altitudes. (rapid communication)