Atomic And Nuclear Physics

18

Cosmic Rays

THIS CHAPTER COVERS…

• The nature and properties of cosmic rays.
• Starting from early research, detection and properties like energy, composition, latitude effect and altitude effect.
• The high-energy cosmic rays, origin in our galaxy and solar system and production of cosmic ray showers.
• The van-Allen radiation belts, its harmful and beneficial effects.
• Origin of cosmic rays and the antimatter.

18.1 INTRODUCTION

Cosmic rays are high energy charged particles, that originate in outer space, travel at speed nearly equal to the velocity of light and strike the Earth from all directions. Most cosmic rays are the nuclei of atoms, ranging from the lightest to the heaviest elements in the periodic table. Cosmic rays also include high ...