Assembly and Characterization of Modular Cosmic Ray Detectors*

Plastic scintillators with phosphorescent dopants produce photons as charged particles deposit energy in them. In our project, silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) were characterized in conjunction with plastic scintillators and amplification modules to produce a grid of muon detectors. With the aid of a raspberry pi controller, muon detection events were fitted to create particle tracks, which were then displayed on an LED cube for visualization. 

The relatively small size of SiPMs in comparison to photomultiplier tubes has enabled recent production of portable muon detectors, which, when combined with the humidity stability of plastic scintillators, enable the measurement of cosmic ray incidence across the globe. By introducing path reconstruction within our portable detector, this project promotes a physical comprehension of the cosmic ray phenomena that must be considered in nuclear physics experiments. This project hopes to encourage a more developed understanding of particles for people of all scientific backgrounds through community outreach.