QuarkNet 2011QuarkNet 2011Mohamed Ali-HusseinMohamed Ali-Hussein

Ayasha JabberAyasha Jabber

Cosmic RaysCosmic Rays

Discovered by Victor Hess Discovered by Victor Hess in 1912in 1912

High energy particles High energy particles (atoms, protons, electrons) (atoms, protons, electrons) traveling at the speed of traveling at the speed of light into the Earth from light into the Earth from outer spaceouter space

Produced when stars Produced when stars collapse and produce shock collapse and produce shock waveswaves

EquipmentEquipment

6000 Series DAQ6000 Series DAQ

Cosmic Ray Cosmic Ray detector, equipped detector, equipped with scintillator and with scintillator and Photo Multiplier Photo Multiplier TubeTube

Computer with Computer with hyper-terminal hyper-terminal programprogram

Flux ExperimentsFlux ExperimentsAllows investigating cosmic Allows investigating cosmic rays flux as a function of time rays flux as a function of time of day, solar activity, altitude, of day, solar activity, altitude, and many other factors.and many other factors.

Asks question, “How does the Asks question, “How does the rate at which cosmic rays rate at which cosmic rays pass through my detector pass through my detector depend on ____ ?”depend on ____ ?”

Detectors can be stacked or Detectors can be stacked or separated.separated.

Specific experiment used for Specific experiment used for our group study, due to its our group study, due to its flexible dataset.flexible dataset.

ΦΦCR CR = events/(time)(area)= events/(time)(area)

Muon Lifetime Muon Lifetime ExperimentsExperiments

If muon passes through counter If muon passes through counter 1 and into counter 2, both should 1 and into counter 2, both should have a signal at the same time. have a signal at the same time.

If muon stops within a a certain If muon stops within a a certain detector, it will decay within that detector, it will decay within that detector, and generate a second detector, and generate a second signal once it is done doing so.signal once it is done doing so.

Its decay time can be extracted Its decay time can be extracted from the data file.from the data file.

Time of flight before entering Time of flight before entering detector is irrelevant. detector is irrelevant.

Detectors must be stacked on Detectors must be stacked on top of each other.top of each other.

Shower StudiesShower Studies

Detectors spread throughout a Detectors spread throughout a room, or even a city (when room, or even a city (when collaborating with other collaborating with other schools).schools).

Geometry must be recalculated Geometry must be recalculated for each individual detector.for each individual detector.

Allows students to make Allows students to make predictions about the direction predictions about the direction of which the shower came from.of which the shower came from.

Had some trouble with this Had some trouble with this specific study, due to an over-specific study, due to an over-sensitive detector.sensitive detector.

HypothesisHypothesisAngled detectors receive less hits than Angled detectors receive less hits than those laid flat on a level surface.those laid flat on a level surface.

ProcedureProcedure

All four detectors were placed at 0° and left to All four detectors were placed at 0° and left to collect data for an hour.collect data for an hour.

After the allotted time, the detectors were After the allotted time, the detectors were shifted to a 30° position and left to collect data shifted to a 30° position and left to collect data for an hour.for an hour.

The same method was used for 60° and 90° The same method was used for 60° and 90° positions.positions.

ResultsResultsBetween 30° and 60°, Between 30° and 60°, one sees the least one sees the least dramatic shift in events, dramatic shift in events, due to there being a less due to there being a less noticeable change in noticeable change in position compared to position compared to other pairs.other pairs.

Data is conclusive, Data is conclusive, nonetheless; the greater nonetheless; the greater the deviation from the the deviation from the origin, the less the origin, the less the cosmic rays made cosmic rays made contact with the contact with the detectors.detectors.

AfterthoughtsAfterthoughts

Further study Further study (longer time (longer time intervals, more intervals, more detectors) is detectors) is required on a larger required on a larger scale to doubtlessly scale to doubtlessly confirm results. confirm results.