Speaker
Description
Solar activity variations strongly impact the modulation of the flux of low-energy Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) reaching the Earth. The secondary particles, which originate from the interaction of GCRs with the atmosphere, can be revealed by an array of ground detectors. We show that the low-threshold rate (scaler) time series recorded over 16 years of operation by the surface detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory in Malargüe (Argentina) strongly reflects solar activity and can be considered as a new proxy of solar variability. To achieve this result, we apply advanced spectral methods to this time series and to the classical solar sunspot number and sunspot area series, as well as to different heliospheric magnetic field series measured by NASA's Advanced Composition Explorer. We detect and compare highly significant variations with periods ranging from the decadal to the daily scale and identify the origin of each variability mode. In conclusion, we show that the Auger scaler data, thanks to the very low noise level and high statistical significance related to the very high count rates (∼10^^6 counts per second), allow for a thorough and detailed investigation of the GCR flux variations in the heliosphere.
| Collaboration(s) | The Pierre Auger Collaboration and Ilaria Bizzarri, Cecilia Dionese, Salvatore Mancuso |
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