Atmospheric Muon lifetime experiment

[MaximumTaco]

OK, I'm currently in the process of designing an experiment to measure the rest lifetime of the muon, using a vertical stack of four flat scintillation detectors separated by lead plates, and coincidence electronics, Time-Amplitude converter, etc. to acquire data from the cosmic ray muons reaching sea level, and their corresponding decay electrons.

Now, the only bit I'm having trouble figuring out is determining the efficency of the scintillators experimentally.

We can say that eff(A) can be calculated as 1 - ((N((a')bc) / N(abc)) and expressions like that, where the efficency of A is a quantification of the number of particles detected in A (A being the top of the 4 scintillators, followed by B, C and D) relative to the actual number passing through it, where N((a`)(bc), for example, is the number of counts from B AND C and NOT A, and so forth.

Now, the bit I'm not understanding is the acceptance correction terms which need to be included in these efficency calculations, where by acceptance i mean the quantity which quantifies the muons passing out the side of the detector stack.

I know I'm not explaining this very well, I'm sorry, but I'm sure some of you recognise what I'm trying to set up.

Could someone explain to me how the acceptances can be included in the efficency calculations, or provide any good references for peforming the calculations for this kind of experiment?

Cheers.

 

[Evalesco]

Acceptance correction terms are generally calculated using Monte Carlo simulations. Essentially, you would use a computer to simulate the passage of muons through your detector stack and calculate the number of muons which escape from the sides of the stack. You can then use this value to adjust the efficency calculations and account for the particles not detected by the scintillators.

If you're looking for more information on how to perform the acceptance correction calculation, you may want to check out the paper "The Muon Lifetime Experiment in the Laboratory of Elementary Particle Physics" by F.A.K. Aljamal et al. It discusses the process of setting up a muon lifetime experiment and includes a section on acceptance corrections.

Good luck with your experiment!

 

[sir-pinski]

First of all, it's great to see that you are working on an experiment to measure the rest lifetime of muons. This is an important area of research in particle physics and your experiment could contribute valuable data to the scientific community.

In terms of determining the efficiency of the scintillators experimentally, there are a few factors that need to be considered. Firstly, the efficiency of the scintillators can be affected by various factors such as the material used, the thickness of the scintillators, and the energy of the particles passing through them. It's important to carefully choose and calibrate your scintillators to ensure accurate measurements.

As for the acceptance correction terms, these are necessary to account for the muons that pass out the side of the detector stack and are not detected. This can be done by using Monte Carlo simulations or by comparing your experimental data with theoretical predictions. You can also use a calibration source to determine the acceptance of your detector system.

In terms of references, I would suggest looking at previous experiments that have measured the lifetime of muons and their methods for determining efficiency and acceptance corrections. You can also consult with experienced researchers in the field for guidance and advice.

Overall, it's important to carefully design and calibrate your experiment to ensure accurate and reliable results. Good luck with your research!