Secondary neutron monitoring at Rozhen observatory - first year report

Abstract Monitoring of solar irradiation events and observation of cosmic ray effects at the Rozhen Observatory (Bulgaria) have been further improved through the deployment of newly constructed, cost-effective equipment: a mini neutron monitor (NM) station. This mini-NM installation was built in accordance with the main requirements and traditions of ground-based NM monitors, with the aim of expanding the coverage of the existing NM network. In this study, we report the initial tests and experimental results from the first year of operation at a remote site located at an altitude of 1750 m above sea level in the Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria.