Neutron generation mechanism correlated with lightning discharges

The results of the experiments, during which we revealed that the flux of neutrons in the atmosphere increases in correlation with electromagnetic pulses of lightning discharges, have been analyzed. The mechanisms of charged particle acceleration and nuclear reactions that can be responsible for neutron generation have been analyzed. It has been indicated that the probability of nuclear synthesis reactions in a lightning channel, which is traditionally considered as the source of neutrons in a thunderstorm atmosphere, is extremely low. The generation of neutrons in thunderstorm electric fields is related to photonuclear reactions in gigantic upward atmospheric discharges caused by relativistic runaway electron bremsstrahlung.