Possible effect of solar tides on radon signals

Steinitz, G.; Piatibratova, Oksana; Kotlarsky, Peter

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.04.002

Cited by 50 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Further insight on the issue was recently gained by experimental simulation of radon signals in confined volumes of air [29]. In contrast to the expectation, the results demonstrate nuclear radiation patterns that are non-uniform in space and in time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Influence of a component of solar irradiance on radon signals at 1 km depth, Gran Sasso, Italy

2013

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Exploratory monitoring of radon is conducted at one location in the deep underground Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS). Measurements (15-min resolution) are performed over a time span of ca 600 days in the air of the surrounding calcareous country rock. Using both α - and γ -ray detectors, systematic and recurring radon signals are recorded. Two primary signal types are determined: (i) non-periodic multi-day (MD) signals lasting 2–10 days and (ii) daily radon (DR) signals—which are of a periodic nature exhibiting a primary 24-h cycle ( θ =0.48). The local ancillary environmental conditions (pressure, temperature) seem not to affect radon in air monitored at the site. Long-term patterns of daytime measurements are different from the pattern of night-time measurements indicating a day–night modulation of γ -radiation from radon in air. The phenomenology of the MD and DR signals is similar to situations encountered at other locations where radon is monitored with a high time resolution in geogas at upper crustal levels. In accordance with recent field and experimental results, it is suggested that a component of solar irradiance is affecting the radiation from radon in air, and this influence is further modulated by the diurnal rotation of the Earth. The occurrence of these radon signals in the 1 km deep low-radiation underground geological environment of LNGS provides new information on the time variation of the local radiation environment. The observations and results place the LNGS facility as a high-priority location for performing advanced investigations of these geophysical phenomena.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Influence of a component of solar irradiance on radon signals at 1 km depth, Gran Sasso, Italy

2013

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“…These reports, along with the observation of a change in the decay rate of 54 Mn during a solar flare suggest the possibility of a direct solar influence on nuclear decay rates through an as yet unknown mechanism. Periodicities and other "non-random" behaviors have been reported in the decays of 3 H (Falkenberg 2001;Lobashev et al 1999;Veprev and Muromtsev 2012), 32 Si, 36 Cl (Alburger et al 1986;Javorsek II et al 2010;Sturrock et al 2010aSturrock et al , 2011aJenkins et al 2012), 54 Mn (Jenkins et al 2011), 56 Mn (Ellis 1990), 60 Co (Baurov et al 2007;Parkhomov 2010b,a), 90 Sr (Parkhomov 2010b,a;Sturrock et al 2012b), 137 Cs (Baurov et al 2007), 152 Eu (Siegert et al 1998), 222 Rn (and/or its daughters) (Steinitz et al 2011;Sturrock et al 2012a), and 226 Ra (and/or its daughters) (Siegert et al 1998;Javorsek II et al 2010;Sturrock et al 2010bSturrock et al , 2011aFischbach et al 2009). Since these fluctuations have been seen by groups located at various sites employing different detector technologies (e.g., gas, scintillation, solid state), it is unlikely that they can all be attributed to temperature, pressure, humidity or other "environmental" influences on the detector systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spectral content of 22Na/44Ti decay data: implications for a solar influence

O’Keefe

Morreale

Lee

et al. 2013

Astrophys Space Sci

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We report a reanalysis of data on the measured decay rate ratio 22 Na/ 44 Ti which were originally published by Norman et al., and interpreted as supporting the conventional hypothesis that nuclear decay rates are constant and not affected by outside influences. We find upon a more detailed analysis of both the amplitude and the phase of the Norman data that they actually favor the presence of an annual variation in 22 Na/ 44 Ti, albeit weakly. Moreover, this conclusion holds for a broad range of parameters describing the amplitude and phase of an annual sinusoidal variation in these data. The results from this and related analyses underscore the growing importance of phase considerations in understanding the possible influence of the Sun on nuclear decays. Our conclusions with respect to the phase of the Norman data are consistent with independent analyses of solar neutrino data obtained at Super-Kamiokande-I and the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO).

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“…The nature of the physical processes driving the temporal patterns observed in 222 Rn time series is not clear, particularly the extent to which environmental parameters, such as temperature, atmospheric pressure, and humidity, can influence the 222 Rn level [2,3]. To help understand these processes, Steinitz et al have carried out experiments that track the variation of alpha and gamma radiation arising from a source of 222 Rn in a closed volume of air [4]. In this article, we analyze a sequence of 28,733 measurements of gamma radiation acquired in this experiment over the time interval 28 January 2007 to 10 May 2010.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of gamma radiation from a radon source: Indications of a solar influence

Sturrock

Steinitz

Fischbach

et al. 2012

Astroparticle Physics

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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.

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Possible effect of solar tides on radon signals

Cited by 50 publications

References 31 publications

Influence of a component of solar irradiance on radon signals at 1 km depth, Gran Sasso, Italy

Influence of a component of solar irradiance on radon signals at 1 km depth, Gran Sasso, Italy

Spectral content of 22Na/44Ti decay data: implications for a solar influence

Analysis of gamma radiation from a radon source: Indications of a solar influence

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