ISSN:
1573-093X
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
Abstract We have examined six solar neutron events measured by satellite instruments and/or neutron monitors (NM) to understand the relationship between the intensity–time profiles of the γ-ray lines, the pion-related γ-rays, and the neutron production. In all six events the solar neutron production was clearly time-extended. We find that neutron emission as detected by NMs most closely follows the emission of pion-related γ-rays, whereas lower energy neutron production may follow that of nuclear γ-ray line emissions. Although this distinction is not unexpected, it is safe to say that the 2.223 MeV γ-ray line from neutron capture on hydrogen is a poor measure of the neutron production at energies 〉200 MeV. During the three events on 1982, June 3, 1990, May 24 and 1991, June 4 solar neutrons with energies greater than 200 MeV were recorded by NMs. The NM increases on 1982, June 3 and 1990, May 24 can be modeled using the time profile of the pion-related γ-rays. For the 1991, June 4 event the NM signal was small but lasted for ∼60 min and the high-energy γ-ray data available to us are insufficient to conclude unambiguously that the high-energy neutron production followed the pion-related γ-rays. In the other three events on 1991, June 9, 11, and 15 solar neutrons with energies 10–100 MeV were observed by the COMPTEL γ-ray instrument on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. The duration of the low-energy neutron production on 1991, June 9 corresponded clearly to the high-energy and not to the low-energy γ-ray emission.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1004908209975
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