Gamma rays emitted by solar flares and those produced by nuclear bombs differ significantly in their origins, intensities, and contexts, making a direct comparison complex. However, in terms of raw energy and intensity at their source, gamma rays from nuclear bombs are generally far more concentrated and intense locally, while gamma rays from solar flares can be vastly more energetic on a cosmic scale but are dispersed over enormous distances.
Solar flares are massive explosions on the Sun’s surface caused by sudden releases of magnetic energy stored in the solar atmosphere. These events accelerate charged particles like protons and heavier ions to very high energies, which then interact with the solar material to produce gamma rays. The gamma rays from solar flares can be extremely energetic, spanning a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum, including high-energy gamma photons. These gamma rays are produced by nuclear interactions involving high-energy protons colliding with solar nuclei, creating nuclear gamma-ray emissions. The energy released in a solar flare can be enormous, sometimes equivalent to millions of nuclear bombs detonated simultaneously, but this energy is spread out over a vast area and radiated into space[1].
In contrast, nuclear bombs generate gamma rays through the rapid fission or fusion reactions occurring within the bomb’s core. When a nuclear bomb detonates, it releases a tremendous amount of energy in a very short time, including intense gamma radiation. This gamma radiation is highly concentrated and extremely intense near the explosion site, contributing to the immediate lethal effects of the bomb. The gamma rays from a nuclear bomb are part of the ionizing radiation that causes severe damage to living tissue and materials nearby. The energy release from a nuclear bomb is typically divided into blast, heat, and radiation, with gamma rays constituting a significant portion of the radiation component. For example, in the Hiroshima atomic bomb, about 15% of the total energy was released as radiation, including gamma rays[2].
The key difference lies in scale and distribution. Solar flare gamma rays are produced in enormous quantities but are emitted into space and spread over billions of kilometers, so by the time they reach Earth, their intensity is much lower. Nuclear bomb gamma rays, however, are concentrated in a small area and cause intense local radiation damage. The gamma rays from solar flares can be detected by space-based observatories and provide valuable information about solar processes, but they do not pose the same immediate radiation hazard to humans on Earth as the gamma rays from a nuclear explosion do.
Moreover, the energy of individual gamma photons from solar flares can be higher than those from nuclear bombs because solar flares can accelerate particles to relativistic speeds, producing very high-energy gamma rays. Yet, the total gamma radiation dose delivered by a nuclear bomb in its vicinity is far more damaging due to the proximity and concentration of the radiation.
In summary, while solar flares produce gamma rays that can be more energetic on a particle-by-particle basis and involve far greater total energy output, the gamma rays from nuclear bombs are much stronger in terms of intensity and radiation dose in their immediate environment. The gamma radiation from nuclear bombs is highly concentrated and lethal locally, whereas solar flare gamma rays are diffuse and primarily significant in astrophysical contexts rather than direct terrestrial harm.