jimmy mccarthy international cosmic ray day 26 th september 2012 detecting cosmic rays
TRANSCRIPT
- Slide 1
- Jimmy McCarthy International Cosmic Ray Day 26 th September 2012 Detecting Cosmic Rays
- Slide 2
- The Detector
- Slide 3
- The Scintillation Counter Plastic scintillator Charged particle goes through scintillator. Light emitted in all directions. Light bounces around scintillator. Enters light guide. Directed into PMT
- Slide 4
- Photomultiplier Tube Photon hits cathode. Electron is emitted from cathode. Hits dynode and 2 or 3 electrons emitted. Amplified at each stage Electrical signal produced. Photon Anode Electron DynodesPhotocathode
- Slide 5
- The QuarkNet Card ddddfd Signal In Check for coincidences Counting cosmic rays Connect to computer
- Slide 6
- The Experiments Split into 3 groups 3 different experiments 11:00 12:15 Getting familiar with equipment 12:15 1:15 Lunch 1:15 2:15 Collecting Data 2:15 3:15 Analysing Data
- Slide 7
- Measuring Flux (All 3 experiments) Flux is the number of cosmic rays passing through the detector every second. Using the counter on the QuarkNet board. What errors might arise using this method? Using 6 people to get results. 1 person to keep time. 2 people to record and process counts 3 people to read the counter each minute Every 30 secs, 3 people shout out the number on the counter. Take an average of the 3 numbers, and work out how many cosmic rays were detected. Repeat for ~15 minutes (30 readings)
- Slide 8
- Exp1: Solid Angle Start with counters at fixed separation. Measure the flux of cosmic rays Change the separation Measure the flux again Discuss in groups: Do you expect to see a difference? If so, what difference? Why? Calculate theoretical predictions. Does it match your measurements?
- Slide 9
- Exp2: Zenith Angle Start at fixed separation. Measure the flux. Change the angle of the detector to the vertical. Keep the separation the same Discuss in groups: Do you expect to see a difference? If so, what difference? Why? Measure more angles (from 0 90 ) Does it follow a pattern?
- Slide 10
- Exp3: Altitude. Start with fixed separation. Measure flux. Put the detector on the trolley provided. Move to a different floor in the building. Measure the flux again. Discuss in groups: Do you expect to see a difference? If so, what difference? Why? Measure the flux on each floor of the building. Estimate the height difference between floors. Does the flux follow a pattern?