Solar Energetic Particle Spectrum on 2006 December 13 Determined by IceTop

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 689; no. 1; pp. L65 - L68
• Main Authors: Adams, J, Ahrens, J, Andeen, K, Bai, X, Bay, R, Bazo Alba, J. L, Becker, J. K, Becker, K. H, Berghaus, P, Bertrand, D, Bieber, J. W, Blaufuss, E, Bohm, C, Böser, S, Chirkin, D, Clem, J, Cowen, D. F, Danninger, M, Dreyer, J, Dumm, J. P, Duvoort, M. R, Ehrlich, R, Eisch, J, Evenson, P. A, Fox, B. D, Gaisser, T. K, Ganugapati, R, Grant, D, Grullon, S, Gurtner, M, Halzen, F, Hanson, K, Helbing, K, Hill, G. C, Hülss, J. P, Hultqvist, K, Hundertmark, S, Jacobsen, J, Japaridze, G. S, Joseph, J. M, Kampert, K. H, Karg, T, Klein, S. R, Kohnen, G, Kolanoski, H, Kowalski, M, Kowarik, T, Krasberg, M, Kuehn, K, Labare, M, Lauer, R, Leich, H, Madsen, J, Matis, H. S, Messarius, T, Mészáros, P, Montaruli, T, Morse, R, Movit, S. M, Nahnhauer, R, Nam, J. W, Niessen, P, Nygren, D. R, Olivas, A, Patton, S, Pérez de los Heros, C, Petrovic, J, Piegsa, A, Pieloth, D, Pohl, A. C, Potthoff, N, Przybylski, G. T, Rizzo, A, Rothmaier, F, Roucelle, C, Rutledge, D, Schlenstedt, S, Schneider, D, Schultz, O, Seckel, D, Seo, S. H, Seunarine, S, Silvestri, A, Smith, A. J, Spiering, C, Stanev, T, Stezelberger, T, Stokstad, R. G, Strahler, E. A, Sulanke, K. H, Swillens, Q, Taboada, I, Tarasova, O, Ter-Antonyan, S, Tilav, S, Tluczykont, M, Waldenmaier, T, Williams, D. R, Wischnewski, R, Yodh, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 2008; IOP
• Subjects: Astronomy; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Fysik; NATURAL SCIENCES; NATURVETENSKAP; Physics; Sun: flares; Sun: particle emission; Antarctica, South Pole; Sun: flares; Sun: particle emission; Solar particles; Sun; Particle emission
• ISSN: 1538-4357; 0004-637X; 1538-4357
• DOI: 10.1086/595679

On 2006 December 13 the IceTop air shower array at the South Pole detected a major solar particle event. By numerically simulating the response of the IceTop tanks, which are thick Cerenkov detectors with multiple thresholds deployed at high altitude with no geomagnetic cutoff, we determined the particle energy spectrum in the energy range 0.6-7.6 GeV. This is the first such spectral measurement using a single instrument with a well- defined viewing direction. We compare the IceTop spectrum and its time evolution with previously published results and outline plans for improved resolution of future solar particle spectra.