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Experiments in relativistic
kinematics: the universal speed limit and time
dilation. The existence of an absolute limit,
c, on the speed of particles is demonstrated by
a measurement of the times of flight of cosmic-ray
muons between scintillation counters in the laboratory.
The mean life of muons at rest is then determined
from a measurement of the distribution of radioactive
decay times of muons that stop in a large plastic
scintillator.
Given their measured short mean
life, the measured speed limit, and the large
distance they travel from their places of production
high in the atmosphere, it is apparent that the
muons in flight live much longer relative to an
observer in the laboratory than muons at rest,
in conformance with the predictions of relativistic
kinematics.
Student Wiki: Cosmic-Ray Muons
Download
Lab Guide in PDF format
(certificates
required)
- [1948] B. Rossi, Interpretation of Cosmic-Ray Phenomena Reviews of Modern Physics, Vol. 20, Number 3, July, 1948
- B. Rossi, High-Energy Particles (Prentice-Hall, New York, 1952) Chapter 1, pp. 1-9.
- B. Rossi, High-Energy Particles (Prentice-Hall, New York, 1952) Chapter
2: "Theory of Electromagnetic Interactions," pp. 10-89.
- B. Rossi, High-Energy Particles (Prentice-Hall, New York, 1952) Chapter 3: "Experimental Methods," pp. 90-145.
- B. Rossi, High-Energy Particles (Prentice-Hall, New York, 1952) Chapter 4: "Elementary Particles," pp. 146-213.
- B. Rossi, High-Energy Particles (Prentice-Hall, New York, 1952) Chapter 5: "Cosmic Showers," pp. 214-297.
- B. Rossi, High-Energy Particles (Prentice-Hall, New York, 1952) Chapter 6: "Experimental Results on the Electromagnetic Interactions of High-Energy Particles in Cosmic Rays and from Artificial Source,"s pp. 299-341.
- B. Rossi, High-Energy Particles (Prentice-Hall, New York, 1952) Chapter 7: "Nuclear Interactions of High-Energy Particles from Artificial Sources," pp. 342-387.
- B. Rossi, High-Energy Particles (Prentice-Hall, New York, 1952) Chapter 8: "Nuclear Interactions of Cosmic-Rays" Part I, pp. 388-465.
- B. Rossi, High-Energy Particles (Prentice-Hall, New York, 1952) Chapter 8: "Nuclear Interactions of Cosmic-Rays" Part II, pp. 466-525.
- B. Rossi, High Energy Particles (Prentice-Hall, New York, 1952) Appendices, Bibliography and Index, pp. 527-569.
- [1963] D.H. Frisch and J.H. Smith Measurement of the Relativistic Time Dilation Using mu-Mesons American Journal of Physics, Vol. 31, pp. 342-355, 1963
- B. Rossi, Cosmic Rays (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1964).
- [1970] R.E. Hall, D.A. Lind and R.A. Ristinen A Simplified Muon Lifetime Experiment for the Instructional Laboratory American Journal of Physics, Vol. 38, Number 10, October, 1970
- D. Griffiths, Introduction to Elementary Particles (Wiley, New York, 1987), Chapter 1, pp. 1-51.
- D. Griffiths, Introduction to Elementary Particles (Wiley, New York, 1987), Chapter 10: "Theory of Weak Interactions and Muon Decay," pp. 301-309
- D.H. Perkins, Introduction to High Energy Physics (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2000) p. 213; A nice comparison positon spectra from muon (three body) and pion (two body decays)
- Standford Linear Accelerator High Energy Cosmic Rays: A very nice overview of current cosmic ray research.
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8.13 Syllabus and Policies
