A new ground level neutron monitor for space weather assessment

Abstract

Abstract We report on a new ground-level neutron monitor design for studying cosmic rays and fluxes of solar energetic particles at the Earth’s surface. The first-of-its-kind instrument, named the NM-2023 after the year it was standardised and following convention, will be installed at a United Kingdom Meteorological Office observatory (expected completion mid 2024) and will reintroduce such monitoring in the UK for the first time since ca. 1984. Monte Carlo radiation transport code is used for the development and application of parameterised models to investigate alternative neutron detectors, their location and bulk material geometry in a realistic cosmic ray neutron field. Benchmarked against a model of the current and most widespread design standardised in 1964 (the NM-64), two main parameterisation studies are conducted; a simplified standard model and a concept slab parameterisation. We show that the NM-64 standard is well optimised for the intended large-diameter boron trifluoride (BF $$_3$$ 3 ) proportional counters but not for multiple smaller diameter counters. The new design (based on a novel slab arrangement) produces comparable counting efficiencies to an NM-64 with six BF $$_3$$ 3 counters and has the added advantage of being more compact, lower cost and avoids the use of highly toxic BF $$_3$$ 3 .