Cosmic Ray Muon Detection

Department of Physics and Space Sciences Florida Institute of Technology

Georgia Karagiorgi Julie Slanker

Advisor: Dr. M. Hohlmann

Cosmic Ray Muons

p+ -> m+ + nm p- -> m- +`nm

Main goals
Equipment setup Muon flux measurement Investigation of flux variation with
Altitude Zenith angle Cardinal points Overlap area

Investigation of count rate variation with

Overlap area Separation distance between the paddles

Investigation of doubles flux with zenith angle Muon lifetime experiment Air shower experiment

Equipment

2 scintillation detectors developed at Fermilab

2 PMT tubes 2 PM bases 2 Coincidence logic boards (version 1 and version2)

Scintillation Detectors

A scintillation detector has the property to emit a small flash of light (i.e. a scintillation) when it is struck by ionizing radiation.

Setup

The setup is such that the counter on the DAQ board and the computer are recording coincidences, i.e. signals sent from both detectors at the same time

DAQ board resolving time for coincidences = 160ns

This technique

Results in elimination of background noise Offers a great number of possible experiments

I. Setting up equipment

Plateau Measurements for PMTs (Procedure for finding working voltage) Example of a plateau curve:
Onset of regeneration effects (afterpulsing, discharges, etc)

Plateau

Plateau measurements
For coincidences
Coincidence Plateau (superimposed)
350 300 HV#14 = 7.00 HV#14 = 7.20 HV#14 = 7.40 HV#14 = 7.60 HV#14 = 7.80 HV#14 = 8.00 HV#14 = 8.20 HV#14 = 8.40 7.80 8.80 HV#13 (dial units) 9.80

Counts/2mins

250 200 150 100 50 0 6.80

Plateau measurements
For coincidences
Coincidence Plateau (superimposed)
350 300
HV#13 = 7.00 HV#13 = 7.20 HV#13 = 7.40 HV#13 = 7.60 HV#13 = 7.80 HV#13 = 8.00 HV#13 = 8.20 HV#13 = 8.40 HV#13 = 8.60 HV#13 = 8.80 HV#13 = 9.00 HV#13 = 9.20 HV#13 = 9.40 HV#13 = 9.60 HV#13 = 9.80

Counts/2mins

250 200 150 100 50 0 6.80 7.30 7.80 8.30 8.80 HV#14 (dial units)

HV#13 = 10.00

II. Flux
Muons reach the surface of the Earth with typically constant flux F.

(count rate)d2 F = (area of top panel)(area of bottom panel)

F = 0.48 cm-2min-1sterad-1 (PDG theoretical value) Count rate: 0.585cm-2min-1 (horizontal detectors) Our experimental value: 36min-1 (8% efficiency)

III. Investigation of flux variation

With altitude We collected data on the 7 different floors of Crawford building, on the FIT campus

All measurements were taken at a same specific location on each floor, except for the one on floor 7.

III. Investigation of flux variation

With altitude Results:
Flux vs. floor level
flux (count/min.cm^2.sterad)
0.004 0.0035 0.003 0.0025 0.002 0.0015 0.001 0.0005 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

floor

III. Investigation of flux variation

With zenith angle

Expected result:

F ~ cos2

III. Investigation of flux variation

With zenith angle

Rotation mount for support of the setup:

III. Investigation of flux variation

With zenith angle Results: (7th floor Crawford)
Flux vs. zenith angle

Flux (count/min.cm^2.sterad)

0.004 0.0035 0.003 0.0025 0.002 0.0015 0.001 0.0005 0 -150 -100 -50 0 50 100 150

zenith angle (degrees)

III. Investigation of flux variation

With zenith angle Results: (7th floor Crawford)
Flux vs. cosine squared of zenith angle (expect lin. dependence)
0.004

Flux (count/min.cm^2.sterad)

0.0035 0.003 0.0025 0.002 0.0015 0.001 0.0005 0 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2

cosine squared of zenith angle (degrees)

III. Investigation of flux variation

With zenith angle Results: (Observatory)
flux vs.

flux (count/min.cm^2.sterad)

0.004 0.0035 0.003 0.0025 0.002 0.0015 0.001 0.0005 0 -100 -50 0 50 100

(degrees)

III. Investigation of flux variation

With zenith angle Results: (Observatory)
flux vs. (cos)^2
flux (count/min.cm^2.sterad)
0.004 0.0035 0.003 0.0025 0.002 0.0015 0.001 0.0005 0 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2

(cos)^2

III. Investigation of flux variation

With cardinal points Results: (Senior Lab)

(total) count rate with azimuthal angle EW rotation

3.50 3.00 2.50 2.00 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.00

count rate (min^-1)

-100

-50

0 angle (degrees)

50

100

III. Investigation of flux variation

With cardinal points Results: (total) count rate with cosine squared of azimuthal (Senior Lab)
angle EW rotation
count rate (min^-1)
4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00 0.000 0.200 0.400 0.600 cos^2() 0.800 1.000 1.200

III. Investigation of flux variation

With cardinal points Results: (Senior Lab)

(total) count rate with azimuthal angle NS rotation

4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00

count rate (min^-1)

-100

-50

0 angle (degrees)

50

100

III. Investigation of flux variation

With cardinal points Results: (Senior Lab) (total) count rate with cosine squared of azimuthal
angle NS rotation
count rate (min^-1)
4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00 0.000 0.200 0.400 0.600 cos^2() 0.800 1.000 1.200

III. Investigation of flux variation

With cardinal points Results: (Senior Lab)
count rate (counts/min)

Superimposed count rate for NS and EW rotation

4.00 3.50 3.00 2.50 2.00 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.00

EW rotation NS rotation

-100

-50

50

100

zenith angle (degrees)

III. Investigation of flux variation

With overlap area

III. Investigation of flux variation

With overlap area Results:
flux vs. overlap area
flux (count/min.cm^2.sterad)

0.0105 0.009 0.0075 0.006 0.0045 0.003 0.0015 0 0 20 40 60 % overlap 80 100 120 Series1 Series2

IV. Investigation of count rate variation

With overlap area Results:
count rate vs. overlap area (min separation distance)
35
count rate (min^-1)

30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 20 40 60 % overlap 80 100 120

y = 0.2971x + 1.4425 R2 = 0.9938 Series1 Series2 Linear (Series1) Linear (Series2) y = 0.2575x + 1.5875 R2 = 0.9998

IV. Investigation of count rate variation

With separation distance d between the two paddles Expected results: count rate is proportional to stereo angle viewed along a specific direction
stereo angle vs. d
stereo angle (* sterad)

2 1.5 1 0.5 0 0 2 4 d (in multiples of l) 6 8

Rectangular arrangement; top/bottom phase constant (lxl); d varies (multiples of l)

Values calculated using Mathematica integral output

IV. Investigation of count rate variation

With separation distance d between the two paddles Results:
count rate (about vertical direction) vs. separation distance d
12.00 10.00
counts/min

8.00 6.00 4.00 2.00 0.00 0 20 40 60 distance d (cm) 80 100 120

V. Investigation of doubles flux variation

Using the DAQ v.1 board, we recorded low energy (decaying) muon events on the computer. These events are called doubles.

V. Investigation of doubles flux variation

With zenith angle Results: (Observatory)
data plot for double hits at different angles

200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 -100 -50 0 50 100 # of doubles % of doubles total # of hits

angle (degrees)

VI. Muon lifetime experiment

We collected data of double events We plotted tdecay of an initial sample N0 of low energy muons We fit the data to an exponential curve of the form: N(t) = N0e^(-t/T); where T = muon lifetime

VI. Muon lifetime experiment

Results:

y = -63.856 + 616.791e-0.4552x

Lifetime T: T = 2.1965s Tth = 2.1970s

VI. Muon lifetime experiment

Results:

y = 14.7029 + 1493.09e-0.4601x

Lifetime T: T = 2.1733s

Tth = 2.1970s

VI. Muon lifetime experiment (verification)

Results:
800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0 5 10 15 20 N(t) before noise subtraction Expon. (N(t) before noise subtraction)

N(t) = No e^(-t/T)
y = 696.16e-0.4668x R2 = 0.996
noise level

Lifetime T: T = 2.1422s

Tth = 2.1970s

N(t) (sample)

time t (microseconds)

VI. Muon lifetime experiment (verification)

Results:
N(t) (remaining sample)
600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0 5 10 15 20 after noise subtraction Expon. (after noise subtraction)

N(t) = No e^(-t/T) [after noise subtraction] y = 465.2e-0.4613x R2 = 0.9795

Lifetime T: T = 2.1678s

Tth = 2.1970s

time t (microseconds)

IX. Air shower experiment

In progress Make use of: DAQ v.2 board GPS option Another 5 detector setups assembled during QuarkNet

References

http://pdg.lbl.gov/2002/cosmicrayrpp.pdf http://www2.slac.stanford.edu/vvc/cosmicrays/crdctour.html http://hermes.physics.adelaide.edu.au/astrophysics/muon/