The 48-Year Data Analysis Collected by Nagoya Muon Telescope—A Detection of Possible (125 ± 45) Day Periodicity

Abstract

Muons produced by cosmic rays above the atmosphere provide valuable information on the intensity of cosmic rays and variations in the upper atmosphere. Since 1970, the Nagoya University Cosmic Ray Laboratory has been observing the muon intensity using a multi-directional cosmic ray telescope with two layers of 36 plastic scintillators of 1m2 each, which measure the muon intensity in different incident directions. The energy of an incident proton that produces a muon incident from a vertical direction is over 11.5 GV. This paper analyzes vertical muon intensities obtained over 48 years from 1970 to 2018 using methods that differ from the East–West method. As a result, a new periodicity of (125±45) days and a new periodicity of (4–16) days were found. The latter appears only in winter time, so it may be caused by a synoptic-scale disturbance associated with the arrival of the Siberian cold air mass. On the other hand, the former periodicity may be related to solar dynamo activity. In 1984, the Solar Maximum Mission’s Gamma Ray Spectrometers reported a periodicity of about (154±10) days in the flux of solar gamma rays. The (125±45)-day periodicity found here is most likely related to solar dynamo activity, since the intensity of cosmic rays around 11.5 GV is affected by the magnetic field induced by the Sun. However, this (125±45)-day periodicity differs from the report measured by the GRS instrument in a point that it also appears during periods of low solar activity. Furthermore, it has not appeared often during lower solar activity since 1992. This information is important for future investigation of the origin of this periodicity.