Fieldable muon spectrometer using multi-layer pressurized gas Cherenkov radiators and its applications

Area of Science:

• Particle Physics
• Astrophysics
• Radiation Detection

Background:

• Cosmic ray muons are valuable non-conventional radiation probes.
• Accurate measurement of muon momentum is crucial for engineering applications but challenging with existing methods.
• Traditional spectrometers (e.g., solenoid magnets) are bulky and expensive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate a new, compact method for estimating cosmic ray muon momentum.
• To develop a portable and cost-effective alternative to large-scale muon momentum spectrometers.
• To enable precise muon momentum measurements for broader engineering applications.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing multi-layer pressurized gas Cherenkov radiators to estimate muon momentum.
• Coupling the Cherenkov radiator system with existing muon detectors.
• Developing a compact spectrometer system ( < 1m³).

Main Results:

• The proposed method accurately estimates muon momentum in the range of 0.1-10.0 GeV/c.
• Achieved a momentum resolution of ±0.5 GeV/c.
• Successfully reconstructed the cosmic muon spectrum with approximately 90% accuracy.

Conclusions:

• The developed Cherenkov radiator-based spectrometer provides an accurate, portable, and compact solution for muon momentum measurement.
• This method eliminates the need for bulky magnetic or time-of-flight spectrometers.
• The technology is readily integrable with existing muon detection systems, broadening its applicability.