Rapid Cosmic Ray Fluctuations: Evidence for Cyclic Behaviour

摘要

We study rapid cosmic-ray fluctuations using 5-min resolution data from eight neutron monitors with different cutoff rigidities as well as from the ACE satellite. We define a proxy index of rapid cosmic-ray fluctuations as the mean power of the cosmic-ray power spectrum in the frequency range 10−4 −1.67 × 10−3 Hz (10 min to about 3 h). A dominant 11-year periodicity in the index is found in all neutron monitors. We also report on intermittent, short-term periodicities in the power of rapid cosmic-ray fluctuations. A strong mid-term periodicity of about 1.6 – 1.8 years, possibly related to a recently found similar periodicity in IMF, appears in CR fluctuation power since the 1980s. Another strong periodicity is found at 1 year, which is likely related to the relative position of the Earth in the heliosphere. These results also provide new challenge to test the cosmic-ray modulation theory.