Salient features, response and operation of Lead-Free Gulmarg Neutron Monitor

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Vol. 813; pp. 74 - 83
• Main Authors: Mufti, S., Chatterjee, S., Ishtiaq, P.M., Darzi, M.A., Mir, T.A., Shah, G.N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 21.03.2016
• Subjects: Computer simulation; Cosmic-ray-induced secondary neutrons; Detectors; Energy response; Energy use; FLUKA; Forbush decrease; Lead free; Modulation; Monitors; Monte Carlo methods; Neutron monitors; Neutron sources; Solar modulation; Neutron monitors; FLUKA; Solar modulation; Energy response; Cosmic-ray-induced secondary neutrons; Forbush decrease
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2016.01.019

Lead-Free Gulmarg Neutron Monitor (LFGNM) provides continuous ground level intensity measurements of atmospheric secondary neutrons produced in interactions of primary cosmic rays with the Earth׳s constituent atmosphere. We report the LFGNM detector salient features and simulation of its energy response for 10−11MeV to 104MeV energy incident neutrons using the FLUKA Monte Carlo package. An empirical calibration of the LFGNM detector carried out with a Pu–Be neutron source for maximising its few MeV neutron counting sensitivity is also presented. As an illustration of its functionality a single representative transient solar modulation event recorded by LFGNM depicting Forbush decrease in integrated neutron data for which the geospace consequences are well known is also presented. Performance of LFGNM under actual observation conditions for effectively responding to transient solar modulation is seen to compare well with other world-wide conventional neutron monitors.