Seasonal and Lunar month periods observed in natural neutron flux at high altitude

TL;DR

This study investigates the natural thermal neutron flux and radon concentration variations at high altitude, revealing correlations with lunar and yearly cycles, and explores potential earthquake prediction methods using en-detectors.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of lunar and annual cycle correlations in neutron flux and radon levels at high altitude, and proposes a new earthquake prediction approach using en-detectors.

Findings

Confirmed correlation of neutron flux and radon with lunar month

Observed annual variations in neutron flux and radon levels

Proposed a method for earthquake prediction using en-detectors

Abstract

Air radon concentration measurement is useful for research on geophysical effects, but it is strongly sensitive to site geology and many geophysical and microclimatic processes such as wind, ventilation, air humidity and so on that induce very big fluctuations on the concentration of radon in air. On the contrary, monitoring the radon concentration in soil by measuring the thermal neutron flux reduces environmental effects. In this paper we report some experimental results on the natural thermal neutron flux as well as the concentration of air radon and its variations at 4300 m a.s.l. These results were obtained with unshielded thermal neutron scintillation detectors (en-detectors) and radon monitors located inside the ARGO-YBJ experimental hall. The correlation of these variations with the lunar month and 1-year period is undoubtedly confirmed. A method for earthquakes prediction provided by a global net of the en-detectors is currently under study.