Determination of Elevation with Muon Flux Measurements
POSTER
Abstract
Clara Sobery, Sabrina Sobery, and Dr. Richard Lombardini
St. Mary’s University (San Antonio, TX)
Global positioning underground or underwater requires the need for a technique that does not utilize a signal transmitter. Additionally, global positioning systems and cellular services also experience disruptions above sea level in rural areas. The obstructed communications of dead zones and below-sea-level surveillance can cause life-impacting predicaments when exact locations cannot be pinpointed. However, due to the ubiquitousness of cosmic muons, devices that can detect muon flux may be a substitute for the measurement of elevation. Using the special theory of relativity and the Bethe-Bloch formula, we were able to calculate elevation from muon stopping rate and lifetime measurements. Data points were taken at many different spots within our local geographical region. In addition, the limitations of the method were estimated with error analysis. The equipment used for this study was the TeachSpin Muon Detector developed by Thomas Coan, Tiankuan Liu, and Jingbo Ye, from the Physics Department at Southern Methodist University.
St. Mary’s University (San Antonio, TX)
Global positioning underground or underwater requires the need for a technique that does not utilize a signal transmitter. Additionally, global positioning systems and cellular services also experience disruptions above sea level in rural areas. The obstructed communications of dead zones and below-sea-level surveillance can cause life-impacting predicaments when exact locations cannot be pinpointed. However, due to the ubiquitousness of cosmic muons, devices that can detect muon flux may be a substitute for the measurement of elevation. Using the special theory of relativity and the Bethe-Bloch formula, we were able to calculate elevation from muon stopping rate and lifetime measurements. Data points were taken at many different spots within our local geographical region. In addition, the limitations of the method were estimated with error analysis. The equipment used for this study was the TeachSpin Muon Detector developed by Thomas Coan, Tiankuan Liu, and Jingbo Ye, from the Physics Department at Southern Methodist University.
Publication: Muometric positioning system with cosmic muon as a new underwater and underground positioning technique (Hiroyuki K. M. Tanaka, 2020); Cosmic Ray Muon Detection (Elise Le Boulicaut, Gustavus Adolphus College, May 29, 2018); A compact apparatus for muon lifetime measurement and time dilation demonstration in the undergraduate laboratory (Thomas Coan, Tiakuan Liu, Jingbo Ye, 2006); TeachSpin Muon Physics Lab Manual (Thomas Coan, Jingbo Ye, 2009)
Presenters
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Clara L Sobery
St. Mary's Univeristy
Authors
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Clara L Sobery
St. Mary's Univeristy
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Sabrina L Sobery
St. Mary's University
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Richard Lombardini
St. Mary's University