Iris: an Experiment to Measure the Isotopic Composition of Iron in the Galactic Cosmic Radiation.
Abstract
Two plastic scintillation counters, one Cerenkov counter, and a stack of Lexan polycarbonate sheets to measure particle range were combined to achieve the resolution required to measure the isotopic composition of iron group nuclei in the primary cosmic rays. A quantitative understanding of the response of a wave shifted Cerenov radiator was obtained for primary Cerenkov radiation, secondary radiation, and scintillation. A respectable fit of the scintillation response as a function of charge and velocity to an existing model was achieved. The range peak of a heavy ion beam was shown to be not seriously degraded by a large nuclear interaction background. The construction, evaluation and charge and mass resolution capabilities of the detector are described.
- Publication:
-
Ph.D. Thesis
- Pub Date:
- 1976
- Bibcode:
- 1976PhDT.........4A
- Keywords:
-
- Physics: Astronomy and Astrophysics;
- Cerenkov Counters;
- Galactic Radiation;
- Heavy Nuclei;
- Iron Isotopes;
- Primary Cosmic Rays;
- Scintillation Counters;
- Astrophysics;
- Lexan (Trademark);
- Particle Mass;
- Polarization (Charge Separation);
- Radiation Detectors;
- Astrophysics