Calculation of the Solar Activity Effect on the Production Rate of Cosmogenic Radiocarbon in Polar Ice

TL;DR

This study simulates cosmic ray propagation and assesses how solar activity influences the production of cosmogenic radiocarbon in polar ice, revealing significant variations linked to solar cycles.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed calculations of how solar activity modulates radiocarbon production in polar ice through cosmic ray interactions.

Findings

Radiocarbon production varies by ±30% with solar activity cycles.

Nuclear-interacting component dominates radiocarbon production in ice.

Altitudinal dependence of radiocarbon production is characterized.

Abstract

The propagation of cosmic rays in the Earth's atmosphere is simulated. Calculations of the omnidirectional differential flux of neutrons for different solar activity levels are presented. The solar activity effect on the production rate of cosmogenic radiocarbon by the nuclear-interacting and muon components of cosmic rays in polar ice is studied. It has been obtained that the $^{14}C$ production rate in ice by the cosmic ray nuclear-interacting component is lower or higher than the average value by 30% during periods of solar activity maxima or minima, respectively. Calculations of the altitudinal dependence of the radiocarbon production rate in ice by the cosmic ray components are illustrated.