Recording of solar flare neutrons at Tsumeb

High-energy solar neutrons from the flare on 3 June 1982 have been recorded by ground-based neutron monitors. No statistically significant increase in counting rate was recorded by the 18NM64 neutron monitor at Tsumeb. It is shown that if the solar flare had occurred at zenith above the station, a 12% increase in counting rate relative to the galactic cosmic ray background would have resulted. The detection probility for solar neutrons may be improved by using a detector with a larger sensitivity to low-energy neutrons (<1 GeV) than a standard neutron monitor, by removing the lead from the instrument. Preliminary calculations with power law spectra for solar neutron events show that the relative excess counting rate of a neutron-moderated detector at Tsumeb be at least a factor of 2 higher per neutron counter tube than an NM64 neutron monitor. These estimates are preliminary because the specific yield functions of both detectors are not known for primary neutrons with energy ≤1 GeV. A 6NMD and 18NM64 detector will record galactic rays and solar particle events during the present (new) solar activity cycle. When solar neutrons are observed, the specific yield functions may be deduced for the recording of solar neutrons by both detectors at Tsumeb