Authors: Andrew Kuhlman (University of New Hampshire), James Ryan (University of New Hampshire)

This poster outlines the first steps of a deeper look into high-energy solar-neutron events and proposes optimal sites for new neutron monitors to measure them. A specific type of powerful flare, called a “long-duration gamma-ray flare”, can produce neutrons energy in excess of 300 MeV, which are energetic enough to create detectable radiation through Earth’s atmosphere at ground level. Neutron monitors are ground-based instruments that detect neutrons in cosmic-ray showers and are most sensitive to these events when station is at high-altitude and the Sun is high in the sky. Gamma-ray measuring spacecraft such as the Solar Maximum Mission, INTEGRAL, Fermi, etc. have detected high-energy gamma radiation coming from these neutron-producing flares that can last several minutes or even hours. To study this phenomenon, we examine a variety of factors that will influence our investigation: which neutrons monitors are sensitive to these events and what gamma rays from these flares might tell us based on their spectra and time evolution. Eventually, this study will paint a clearer picture of solar neutron phenomena and what these sorts of events can tell us about flare and acceleration mechanisms at the Sun. We present a plan of attack for this problem, the resources available, and prospects for future measurements.