Search for Solar Neutron Events in Alma-Ata NM Data

The Alma-Ata high altitude neutron monitor has a favorable location and good data statistics for solar neutron observations, however, only one enhancement of June 15, 1991 has been attributed to primary solar neutrons during 1976-1998 years. This work presents our search for other possible solar neutron events in the Alma-Ata NM data. The catalog of major x-ray events registered by the GOES satellites and the available information on the hard x-ray and gamma solar emission obtained aboard the SMM and CGRO satellites were used in this search. For each event from the catalog we calculated an expected response of the Alma-Ata neutron monitor to the flux of solar neutrons like observed on June 3, 1982. Possible candidates were chosen by comparing expectations with real NM count rate. Some particular candidates and the statistics of NM count rate close to onset of energetic solar events are discussed.