Muon Telescope and Detection of Muons in a Cloud Chamber
This project will demonstrate the muon telescope that I developed and was featured in MAKE MAGAZINE Vol 79. It contains 9 pairs of geiger tubes, equally spaced in a semi circle between 0 and 90 degrees to detect muons coming from different areas of the sky. I will also be demonstrating the use of scintillation crystals instead of geiger tubes to photograph muon tracks in a cloud chamber.
The collision of interstellar particles, called primary cosmic rays, with other particles in the Earth's upper atmosphere creates muons and other subatomic particles, called secondary cosmic rays. A muon is one of several elemental particles that are indivisible, the basic building blocks of all mater and are continuously striking the earth. Muons are particularly interesting because they are heavy compared to other cosmic secondary cosmic rays, they travel at about 0.998 times the speed of light and they can penetrate hundreds of feet into the earth. the lifetime of a muon is only about 2.2 microseconds, which is actually not enough time to reach the surface of the Earth from the upper atmosphere. However, at 0.998 times the speed of light, the actual time experienced by a muon increases in accordance with Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity by a process called time dilation. Muons can come from every direction of tye sky, from straight above to horizontal.
The collision of interstellar particles, called primary cosmic rays, with other particles in the Earth's upper atmosphere creates muons and other subatomic particles, called secondary cosmic rays. A muon is one of several elemental particles that are indivisible, the basic building blocks of all mater and are continuously striking the earth. Muons are particularly interesting because they are heavy compared to other cosmic secondary cosmic rays, they travel at about 0.998 times the speed of light and they can penetrate hundreds of feet into the earth. the lifetime of a muon is only about 2.2 microseconds, which is actually not enough time to reach the surface of the Earth from the upper atmosphere. However, at 0.998 times the speed of light, the actual time experienced by a muon increases in accordance with Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity by a process called time dilation. Muons can come from every direction of tye sky, from straight above to horizontal.
Elliott Liggett
I retired after 42 years as a materials and mechanical engineer, working at Goodyear Tire and Rubber, Goodyear Aerospace, Loral Defense Systems and Lockheed Martin. I have and share 20 patents for various coating materials , fabric constructions and test equipment but I am most proud of the patent for a high pressure lifting bag used by fire and rescue squads to free accident victims from car crashes or fallen buildings. I enjoy helping people build 3D printers and CNC routers at the Schantz Maker Space and working in my home based shop, building electronics project, cloud chambers, nuclear particle detectors to further my knowledge particle physics.