Muon life time measurement

Author(s)

Anderson Campos Fauth ^[1] ; Artur Chiaperini Grover ^[2] ; Daniel Martelozo Consalter ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Instituto de Física 'Gleb Wataghin' - Brasil

^[2] Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Instituto de Física 'Gleb Wataghin' - Brasil

^[3] Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Instituto de Física 'Gleb Wataghin' - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Revista Brasileira de Ensino de Física; v. 32, n. 4, p. 4502-1-4502-7, 2010-12-00.

Abstract

In this work we used a particle detector and a digital oscilloscope to measure the mean life time of the muon. The experimental method consisted in measuring the time difference between muon arrival and subsequent electron from decay using a oscilloscope. We used cosmic ray muons and only one detector that uses Cherenkov effect into water to measure both the muon and the electron signals. Using the differential range spectrum of vertical muons at sea level and its angular distribution we obtained the rate of decay muons per mass detector, TM = 13 x 10-3 [Hz/kg]. With this result is possible to estimate the rate of muon decay at sea level for a detector with mass M. We obtained 1,87 ± 0,75 ms for the mean life time of the muon that is in agreement with the results reported by the Particle Data Group. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 99/05404-3 - Pierre Auger Observatory
• Grantee: Carlos Ourivio Escobar
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 08/00956-9 - Muon lifetime measurement
• Grantee: Artur Chiaperini Grover
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation