Detection of high-energy solar neutrons and protons by ground level detectors on April 15, 2001

Abstract

In association with the large solar flare of April 15, 2001, the Chacaltaya neutron monitor observed a 3.6 σ enhancement of the counting rate between 13:51 and 14:15 UT. Since the enhancement was observed beginning 11 min before the GLE, solar neutrons must be involved in this enhancement. The integral energy spectrum of solar neutrons can be expressed by a simple power law in energy with the index γ = - 3.0 ± 1.0 . On the other hand, an integral energy spectrum of solar protons has been obtained in the energy range between 650 MeV and 12 GeV. The spectrum can also be expressed by a power law with the power index γ = - 2.75 ± 0.15 . The flux of solar protons observed at Chacaltaya (at ⩾12 GeV) was already one order less than the flux of the galactic cosmic rays. It may be the first simultaneous observation of the energy spectra of both high-energy protons and neutrons. Comparing the Yohkoh soft X-ray telescope images with the observed particle time profiles, an interesting picture of the particle acceleration mechanism has been deduced.