Cosmic Watch
An electrical engineering project at BCA
A muon is an elementary particle similar to an electron, with a charge of -1, but about 207 times more massive. One of the most fascinating aspects of muons is that, theoretically, they shouldn't reach Earth's surface. A muon has a lifespan of around 2.2 microseconds, and considering the distance they have to travel from the upper atmosphere, where they are created in cosmic ray interactions, they should decay before reaching the ground.
However, due to the effects of special relativity, time dilation occurs. This means that from the muon's perspective, time appears to slow down significantly as it approaches the speed of light, allowing it to survive the journey to the Earth's surface.
With my high-school Engineering/Physics teacher (Mr. Liva), I am building a Cosmic Watch, a project originally developed by Postdoc Associates at MIT and Boston University. The Cosmic Watch is a fascinating device that allows us to detect and study these muons right here on Earth. The construction of this device is an exciting journey into both the world of physics and engineering, demonstrating the practical application of theoretical concepts in a tangible way.
I worked on this project for two periods a week with Mr. Liva, and the entire project involved:
[1] Muon research: Learn the principles behind muon detection and the significance of muons in particle physics.
[2] Material Research: Conduct research on the materials required for the device’s electronic components.
[3] Device Assembly: Build and solder circuits and other components for the Cosmic Watch.
[4] Data Collection and Analysis: Collect and analyze data from the muon detector to study cosmic ray activity.
The Process
