Cosmic Ray Cascades: Environmental Influences on High-Energy Cosmic Particles Studied in a University Physics Laboratory

The Advanced Physics course at Oral Roberts University is strategically crafted to prepare students for professional engineering roles and academic research by embedding hands-on, adaptable laboratory projects specific to engineering fields. A pivotal element of this curriculum is a student-conducted study into cosmic ray cascades, focusing on the detection and analysis of muons—massive elementary particles like electrons, produced through cosmic ray interactions with atmospheric molecules.

The current research phase extends an ongoing investigative series into cosmic ray cascades. Earlier phases of this study refined the detection process by calibrating steel plate thickness to enhance cascade visibility and detailing the muons’ angular distribution in various observational setups. This latest phase pivots to examining the influences of environmental conditions on cosmic ray cascades. Students engaged in rigorous data collection and analysis, correlating the frequency and intensity of cascade events with variations in atmospheric temperature, pressure, and general weather conditions, utilizing an advanced detection setup optimized from previous findings (11 plates at a 70° angle relative to the northern horizon).

Preliminary findings indicate that environmental factors significantly affect muon production in cosmic ray showers. Higher atmospheric temperatures reduce the amount of muon flux at ground level due to increased meson decay altitude, while lower atmospheric pressure allows more muons to reach the surface by reducing absorption. Additional factors such as humidity, solar activity, geomagnetic effects, and altitude also contribute to variations in muon detection.

These insights not only broaden the scientific community’s understanding of particle physics but also refine the experimental techniques used in this field, setting a solid foundation for future exploratory projects.