Solar Energetic Particle Spectrum on 13 December 2006 Determined by IceTop

TL;DR

This study uses IceTop at the South Pole to measure the energy spectrum of solar energetic particles from a 2006 event, providing a novel single-instrument spectral analysis with detailed response simulations.

Contribution

First to determine the solar energetic particle spectrum from a single instrument with a defined viewing direction using IceTop.

Findings

Measured particle spectrum from 0.6 to 7.6 GeV.

Compared spectrum with previous results.

Outlined plans for improved spectral resolution.

Abstract

On 13 December 2006 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 Cherenkov detectors with multiple thresholds deployed at high altitude with no geomagnetic cut-off, we determined the particle energy spectrum in the energy range 0.6 to 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.