A 22-year cycle in sunspot activity

We study the recently presented group sunspot number series and show that a persistent 22-year periodicity exists in sunspot activity throughout the entire period of about 400 years of direct sunspot observations. The amplitude of this periodicity in total cycle intensity is about 20% of the present intensity level. A 22-year periodicity in sunspot activity is naturally produced by the 22-year magnetic dynamo cycle in the presence of a relic magnetic field. Accordingly, a persistent 22-year periodicity in sunspot activity gives strong evidence for the existence of such a relic magnetic field in the Sun. The stable phase and the roughly constant amplitude of this periodicity during times of very different sunspot activity level strongly support this interpretation.