Neutral Particle Signal Analysis Searches in Neutron Monitoring Database

The Neutron Monitor Database (NMBD) is a worldwide collection of surface cosmic ray observatories. Its main scientific purpose is to monitor the cosmic ray flux on Earth in the 1-10 GeV energy range to better understand and monitor “space weather” in the form of solar storms and associated magnetic field disturbances, which affect cosmic ray intensities on Earth. International teams of geophysicists and space/plasma physicists have studied the origin and nature of several different types of transient events which come from various disturbances in the magnetic field of the Earth, which in turn influences the trajectories of charged particle components of cosmic rays.

The NMDB provides a large dataset to analyze with 59 Neutron Monitoring stations across the globe with data extending back as early as ~1957. Using techniques and tools such as correlated time series analysis, Poisson processes, Poisson Random Measure, wavelet analysis, FLUKA, and Monte Carlo simulations, we will search for electrically neutral particles coming from outer space that interact in lead to make spallation neutrons that are unusual or unexplained physically. Candidates for this analysis can be cosmic ray neutrons from local sources out to the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud in the solar system and certain dark matter particles. We are also examining correlated signals found in time series cosmic ray neutron data to explore events that are both unknown and/or no full conclusive analysis.

To our knowledge, an analysis of this type has not been done with this data. Hence, we have opportunities for new simulations, interactions and science including modeling upper bounds for cosmic ray fluxes. We aim to generate new approaches to analysis of cosmic ray data and signal analysis through mathematical and astrophysical techniques.