Particle Physics with Low Cost SiPM Based Detectors
written by
Brett Fadem
Muon counting experiments provide students with an opportunity to learn about particle detection in high energy physics, detector design/construction, electronics, coincidence counting, counting statistics, and characteristics of the muons that traverse our bodies every minute of every day. The goal of this project is to construct a muon detector sensitive to the direction of muons, make a measurement of rate vs. angle, and compare the result both to the known angular distribution and to the results of a computer simulation. Several aspects of the design are left open: The first amplification stage of the signal and the digitization stage can be designed by the students. These activities use mailing tubes as the basis for the detectors, but students might choose to design their own mechanical structures and enclosures. If they so choose, students have the opportunity to work with CAD software, 3D printing, and laser cutting. Another selling point for the design described here is the use of silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) instead of traditional high voltage photomultiplier tubes, providing students with exposure to modern light detection techniques in high energy physics. Finally, while not described in these proceedings, the associated activity of creating a computer simulation of muon rates vs. angle helps students to understand the physical considerations that affect the measurement they are making.
2018 Conference on Laboratory Instruction Beyond the First Year of College
Part of the BFY Conference series
Baltimore, MD: July 25-27, 2018
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<a href="https://advlabs.aapt.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=14961">Fadem, Brett. "Particle Physics with Low Cost SiPM Based Detectors." Paper presented at the 2018 Conference on Laboratory Instruction Beyond the First Year of College, Baltimore, MD, July 25-27, 2018.</a>
B. Fadem, , presented at the 2018 Conference on Laboratory Instruction Beyond the First Year of College, Baltimore, MD, 2018, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14961&DocID=5021).
B. Fadem, Particle Physics with Low Cost SiPM Based Detectors, presented at the 2018 Conference on Laboratory Instruction Beyond the First Year of College, Baltimore, MD, 2018, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14961&DocID=5021>.
Fadem, B. (2018, July 25-27). Particle Physics with Low Cost SiPM Based Detectors. Paper presented at 2018 Conference on Laboratory Instruction Beyond the First Year of College, Baltimore, MD. Retrieved December 12, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14961&DocID=5021
Fadem, Brett. "Particle Physics with Low Cost SiPM Based Detectors." Paper presented at the 2018 Conference on Laboratory Instruction Beyond the First Year of College, Baltimore, MD, July 25-27, 2018. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14961&DocID=5021 (accessed 12 December 2024).
Fadem, Brett. "Particle Physics with Low Cost SiPM Based Detectors." 2018 Conference on Laboratory Instruction Beyond the First Year of College. Baltimore, MD: 2018. of BFY Conference. 12 Dec. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14961&DocID=5021>.
@inproceedings{
Author = "Brett Fadem",
Title = {Particle Physics with Low Cost SiPM Based Detectors},
BookTitle = {2018 Conference on Laboratory Instruction Beyond the First Year of College},
Address = {Baltimore, MD},
Series = {BFY Conference},
Month = {July 25-27},
Year = {2018}
}
%A Brett Fadem %T Particle Physics with Low Cost SiPM Based Detectors %S BFY Conference %D July 25-27 2018 %C Baltimore, MD %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14961&DocID=5021 %O 2018 Conference on Laboratory Instruction Beyond the First Year of College %O July 25-27 %O application/pdf
%0 Conference Proceedings %A Fadem, Brett %D July 25-27 2018 %T Particle Physics with Low Cost SiPM Based Detectors %B 2018 Conference on Laboratory Instruction Beyond the First Year of College %C Baltimore, MD %S BFY Conference %8 July 25-27 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14961&DocID=5021
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