Study and Prototyping of Various Instruments for Cosmic Ray Detection

Cosmic rays are high energy particles that originate from outside our atmosphere. When entering our atmosphere they regularly interact and cause a cascade of secondary particles, or a cosmic ray shower. These phenomena were investigated through a variety of particle detectors, including cloud chambers, spark chambers, and organic scintillator paddle counters. Through building these detectors, the fundamental physics of not only cosmic rays, but the detectors themselves, were further understood. Small paddle counters were designed and constructed to study showers and coincidences, while being paired with other detectors. Cloud chambers and spark chambers were built and optimized in order to visualize the path of a particle in coincidence with a triggering system. A system of NIM-modules and Data Acquisition (DAQ) boards from Fermi National Laboratory, Photomultiplier tubes, high voltage supplies, and student built circuits was used for the spark chamber and coincidences. This capstone project resulted in great learning experience for all the students, preparing us for future careers in science and technical fields.