Measurements of the Time-Dependent Cosmic-Ray Sun Shadow with Seven Years of IceCube Data -- Comparison with the Solar Cycle and Magnetic Field Models

TL;DR

This study analyzes seven years of IceCube data to understand the cosmic-ray Sun shadow's variation with solar activity, comparing observations with magnetic field models and exploring energy dependence.

Contribution

First quantitative comparison of solar magnetic field models with IceCube data on the event rate level, including an energy-dependent analysis during different solar activity phases.

Findings

Sun shadow strength decreases with solar activity, with a 6.4 sigma significance.

Both magnetic field models predict shadow weakening during high solar activity, with CSSS fitting data slightly better.

Indications that the shadowing effect increases with energy during high solar activity, aligning with theoretical predictions.

Abstract

Observations of the time-dependent cosmic-ray Sun shadow have been proven as a valuable diagnostic for the assessment of solar magnetic field models. In this paper, seven years of IceCube data are compared to solar activity and solar magnetic field models. A quantitative comparison of solar magnetic field models with IceCube data on the event rate level is performed for the first time. Additionally, a first energy-dependent analysis is presented and compared to recent predictions. We use seven years of IceCube data for the Moon and the Sun and compare them to simulations on data rate level. The simulations are performed for the geometrical shadow hypothesis for the Moon and the Sun and for a cosmic-ray propagation model governed by the solar magnetic field for the case of the Sun. We find that a linearly decreasing relationship between Sun shadow strength and solar activity is preferred over a constant relationship at the 6.4sigma level. We test two commonly used models of the coronal magnetic field, both combined with a Parker spiral, by modeling cosmic-ray propagation in the solar magnetic field. Both models predict a weakening of the shadow in times of high solar activity as it is also visible in the data. We find tensions with the data on the order of $3\sigma$ for both models, assuming only statistical uncertainties. The magnetic field model CSSS fits the data slightly better than the PFSS model. This is generally consistent with what is found previously by the Tibet AS-gamma Experiment, a deviation of the data from the two models is, however, not significant at this point. Regarding the energy dependence of the Sun shadow, we find indications that the shadowing effect increases with energy during times of high solar activity, in agreement with theoretical predictions.