Terrestrial lightning is frequently accompanied by gamma rays. First as a flash, and then as a lingering afterglow that can last up to a minute.

This can be explained in terms of an aether of low energy photons and neutrinos. Because such an aether can be energized by rapid motion of ions and electrons.

Electron in an aether of low energy photons and neutrinos

The mechanism behind lightning

First, an electric current is produced by a strong voltage potential that rips electrons away from atomic nuclei. Electrons move in one direction and positive ions move in the other direction.

Nearby low energy photons are exited in the process, which results in a visible flash as well as an initial gamma ray flash.

If the thunderbolt is particularly energetic, gamma rays will be ripped apart into electron-positron pairs.

Gamma ray photon ripped apart into an electron-positron pair

This leaves an abundant supply of positrons for a lingering afterglow when positrons find electrons to re-combine into gamma rays.

Electron and positron combine into a gamma ray photon

Conclusion

The production of gamma rays inside terrestrial thunderstorms is exactly what we should expect with our model of the aether.

Update made 21/7 2019

New findings shed additional light on what goes on inside thunderstorms. Most interestingly, gamma-rays appear immediately before the main flash. But only after a preceding faint glow.

The sequence of events appear to be as follows:

1. A current is induced in the atmosphere (dark mode or faint glow)
2. This excites the aether, producing electron-positron pairs
3. A large number of the electron-positron pairs recombine to form an initial gamma-ray flash
4. Remaining electron-positron pairs, which constitute a highly conductive plasma, allow for a big discharge, visible as the main flash
5. There is a gamma-ray after glow as the remaining positrons recombine with electrons