Abstract
The Mathematical High School (MHS) Project is a research project involving 160 high schools and 26 Italian universities in which experimental research paths are deepened to explore ...mathematics as a universal language and as a link between the various areas of both humanistic and scientific knowledge. These activities are developed with the collaboration of internationally recognized research institutions. In particular, in the MHS schools, the research group of the Mathematics Department of the University of Salerno in collaboration with INFN (National Institute of Nuclear Physics) Naples division, offers laboratory activities of data analysis on cosmic rays. Students, guided by the researchers, use the CRC (Cosmic Rays Cube), a portable muon detector, to carry out an experimental activity, from the data taking to the analysis. They study what cosmic rays are, where they come from and, in particular, the characteristics of comic-ray muons produced in the Earth atmosphere. Mathematics becomes the instrument to interpret data collected by the detector, measure the muon flux and reconstruct their direction. Using dedicated software, students experience the activity of the researchers. Working in team, they deal with high-profile scientific issues usually not developed in the curricular educational paths.
A new concept for the direct measurement of muons in air showers is presented. The concept is based on resistive plate chambers (RPCs), which can directly measure muons with very good space and time ...resolution. The muon detector is shielded by placing it under another detector able to absorb and measure the electromagnetic component of the showers such as a water-Cherenkov detector, commonly used in air shower arrays. The combination of the two detectors in a single, compact detector unit provides a unique measurement that opens rich possibilities in the study of air showers.
Abstract
We discuss the project “Per un pugno di libri … scientifici”, aimed at bringing the young generations closer to scientific culture through reading divulgation books about physics. The ...project, which is addressed to high-school students, is sponsored by INFN and other national and regional research institutions, along with physics departments of some Italian universities.
The muon longitudinal profile along the shower axis depends on the nature of the primary particle and primary hadronic interaction with air nuclei. The measurement of muonic component inside showers ...generated by Very High Energy Cosmic Rays provides a very powerful tool for sensing high energy Interactions between cosmic ray particles and air molecules. Fundamental parameters such as the interaction cross section, inelasticity, hadron production and multiplicity can be measured by comparing the development of shower electromagnetic component with that of muonic component. Since 1992 a method has been developed to combine the muon arrival direction in a ground based array for cosmic ray detection with their arrival delay with respect to the shower core. This combination permits to select high energy muons weakly scattered in the atmosphere and to reconstruct their height of production with good accuracy. In this paper we discuss the possibility to realize a "dual" apparatus able to detect both electromagnetic and muonic component at primary energies greater than 10 super(17)eV.
JEM--EUSO is an international program for the development of space-based Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Ray observatories. The program consists of a series of missions which are either under development or ...in the data analysis phase. All instruments are based on a wide-field-of-view telescope, which operates in the near-UV range, designed to detect the fluorescence light emitted by extensive air showers in the atmosphere. We describe the simulation software ESAFin the framework of the JEM--EUSO program and explain the physical assumptions used. We present here the implementation of the JEM--EUSO, POEMMA, K--EUSO, TUS, Mini--EUSO, EUSO--SPB1 and EUSO--TA configurations in ESAF. For the first time ESAF simulation outputs are compared with experimental data.
A new concept for the direct measurement of muons in air showers is presented. The concept is based on resistive plate chambers (RPCs), which can directly measure muons with very good space and time ...resolution. The muon detector is shielded by placing it under another detector able to absorb and measure the electromagnetic component of the showers such as a water-Cherenkov detector, commonly used in air shower arrays. The combination of the two detectors in a single, compact detector unit provides a unique measurement that opens rich possibilities in the study of air showers.