The cosmic ray muon energy spectum via Čerenkov radiation

Abstract

In this thesis, I designed and constructed a basic Cerenkov detector to measure the energy spectrum of cosmic ray muons for use in the graduate experimental physics courses, 8.811/2. The apparatus consists of a light-tight central volume with a phototube to detect the Cerenkov radiation of muons whose speed is higher than the speed of light in the medium with which the volume is filled. The measurement is triggerd by coincidence in scintillating detectors above and below the volume. I constructed a signal chain for measurement, collected data for muon energies with the goal of constructing the muon energy spectrum from different Cerenkov spectra. In the range 20-100 GeV, the spectrum is found to obey a power law with exponent -a = -2.90 t .04, which compares well to the value of -2.844 found in the literature. In addition, calculations and considerations were made to aid in the use of this apparatus in a pedagogical manner.