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A Cloud Chamber Investigation of Interactions at Energies Greater than 50 BEV

Citation

Jacobs, Earl Donald (1961) A Cloud Chamber Investigation of Interactions at Energies Greater than 50 BEV. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/0Q79-KG30. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-04062006-140126

Abstract

NOTE: Text or symbols not renderable in plain ASCII are indicated by [...]. Abstract is included in .pdf document. An experiment to measure the inelastic scattering cross-section for nucleons with energies greater than 50 BEV on Iron has been carried out using a large multiplate cloud chamber as the detector and the cosmic-ray flux at Pasadena as the source of nucleons. This cross-section has been found to be 0.56 ± .07 barns and the corresponding nucleon-nucleon cross-section (averaged over protons and neutrons) to be 18 ± 5 mb. The average energy of the events included in the measurement is estimated at 250 BEV. These results have been compared with the inelastic scattering cross-section data available for energies above the [...] meson threshold. An analysis has been made of the angular distribution of N-rays having energy greater than 50 BEV to determine the absorption mean free path in the atmosphere. Also it is shown that the neutral to charged particle ratio at a known depth in the atmosphere and the ratio of the mean free path for absorption to the mean free path for interaction are related to the average elasticity in nucleon-nucleon collisions, the former setting a lower limit and the latter, an upper limit. The absorption mean free path in the atmosphere is found to be 115 ± 15 gm/cm2 and the elasticity is estimated at (0.27 ± .06) [...] 0.45.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:(Physics)
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy
Major Option:Physics
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Anderson, Carl D. (advisor)
  • Cowan, Eugene W. (advisor)
Thesis Committee:
  • Unknown, Unknown
Defense Date:1 January 1961
Record Number:CaltechETD:etd-04062006-140126
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-04062006-140126
DOI:10.7907/0Q79-KG30
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:1278
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Imported from ETD-db
Deposited On:10 Apr 2006
Last Modified:20 Nov 2023 22:45

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