Coherent Transition Radiation from the Geomagnetically Induced Current in Cosmic-Ray Air Showers: Implications for the Anomalous Events Observed by ANITA

We show that coherent transition radiation from the electrically neutral transverse geomagnetic current (CTR-GM) in a cosmic-ray air shower provides a natural, standard model, explanation to the recent "anomalous" events observed by the ANITA detector. We demonstrate that for zenith angles less than ∼70°, combined with high surface elevation, the inclusion of CTR-GM can significantly alter the emitted electric field from a cosmic-ray air shower. CTR-GM therefore has to be included in the radio emission models to provide a full description of the radio emission from a high-energy cosmic-ray air shower traversing a dielectric boundary.