Design and Implementation of a Cosmic Ray Muon Detector

Abstract

Research in the recent two decades has proven detection devices based on cosmic ray muons to be a viable safe alternative to detection technologies using artificial ionizing radiation. Furthermore, some scientific groups have proved the use of other cosmic ray particles in combination with muons to be usable in the detection of illicit materials other than special nuclear materials (SNM). The thesis gives an overview of some of the methods that are used to detect cosmic ray muons and exploit them for practical applications. Additionally, the thesis describes the various steps that have to be taken to build a miniature scintillating detection plate. As a part of an ongoing project a single detection plate consisting of 256 fibres was designed along with several mechanical details needed for it to be functional. The experimental part consisted of constructing a real detector with an active scintillating area of approximately 70mmx70mm that is in principle capable of separating the hit location of a charged particle. The resulting work also highlighted many practical issues that usually cannot be found from literature.