Analysis of Gamma Radiation from a Radon Source: Indications of a Solar Influence

TL;DR

This study analyzes radon-related gamma radiation measurements revealing periodicities that suggest a possible solar influence on nuclear decay rates, with variations linked to day-night cycles and solar interior oscillations.

Contribution

It provides evidence of specific periodicities in gamma radiation data correlating with solar oscillations, supporting the hypothesis of solar influence on decay rates.

Findings

Detected annual and other periodic oscillations in gamma radiation data.

Annual oscillation stronger during daytime, others stronger at night.

Oscillations consistent with solar interior oscillations.

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of about 29,000 measurements of gamma radiation associated with the decay of radon in a sealed container at the Geological Survey of Israel (GSI) Laboratory in Jerusalem between 28 January 2007 and 10 May 2010. These measurements exhibit strong variations in time of year and time of day, which may be due in part to environmental influences. However, time-series analysis reveals a number of periodicities, including two at approximately 11.2 year$^{-1}$ and 12.5 year$^{-1}$. We have previously found these oscillations in nuclear-decay data acquired at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), and we have suggested that these oscillations are attributable to some form of solar radiation that has its origin in the deep solar interior. A curious property of the GSI data is that the annual oscillation is much stronger in daytime data than in nighttime data, but the opposite is true for all other oscillations. This may be a systematic effect but, if it is not, this property should help narrow the theoretical options for the mechanism responsible for decay-rate variability.