What is the composition of cosmic rays?

Roughly 90 percent of cosmic ray nuclei are hydrogen (protons) and 9 percent are helium (alpha particles). Hydrogen and helium are the most abundant elements in the universe and the origin point for stars, galaxies and other large structures.

What are cosmic rays shower?

When a primary cosmic ray produces many secondary particles, we call this an air shower. When many thousand (sometimes millions or even billions) of particles arrive at ground level, perhaps on a mountain, this is called an extensive air shower (EAS). But some particles can be found even kilometers away.

How are cosmic ray showers found on Earth?

To understand the nature of cosmic rays, we detect the particles that are created in the shower and are able to make it down to the Earth’s surface; these are mainly muons. We detect muons using a muon detector.

Who discovered cosmic ray shower?

The air shower was discovered by Bruno Rossi in 1934. By observing the cosmic ray with the detectors placed apart from each other, Rossi recognized that many particles arrive simultaneously at the detectors. This phenomenon is now called an air shower.

Can you see cosmic rays on Earth?

It was determined the astronauts were ‘seeing’ cosmic rays zipping through their eyeballs. Fortunately, cosmic rays passing through Earth are usually absorbed by our atmosphere.

How are cosmic rays detected?

They contain more than 10 billion particles. At the Pierre Auger Observatory, cosmic rays are detected by measuring the Cherenkov light — electromagnetic radiation emitted by charged particles passing through a medium, such as water, at greater than the phase velocity of light in that medium.

What would happen if a cosmic ray hit Earth?

Secondary cosmic rays When cosmic rays enter the Earth’s atmosphere they collide with atoms and molecules, mainly oxygen and nitrogen. Some of these subsequently decay into muons and neutrinos, which are able to reach the surface of the Earth.

Can cosmic rays harm us?

Sometimes, cosmic radiation does reach us, but without creating any harm, just like other low levels of radiation we are regularly exposed to. On average, people are exposed to around 3.5 millisieverts of radiation per year.

Can cosmic rays be detected?

Cosmic rays impacting other planetary bodies in the Solar System are detected indirectly by observing high-energy gamma ray emissions by gamma-ray telescope. These are distinguished from radioactive decay processes by their higher energies above about 10 MeV.

How often do cosmic rays hit Earth?

How Many Cosmic Rays Strike The Earth’s Atmosphere Each Second? The rate of cosmic rays reaching us falls off rapidly as the cosmic ray energy increases. For 1 GeV particles, the rate is about 10,000 per square meter per second. At 1000 GeV (or 1012 eV), the rate is only 1 particle per square meter per second.

How does cosmic radiation affect humans?

Radiation can alter the cardiovascular system, damaging the heart, harden and narrow arteries, and/or eliminate some of the cells in linings of the blood vessels, leading to cardiovascular disease. Radiation exposure can hinder neurogenesis, the process of generating new cells in the brain.

What does cosmic rays do to the human body?

What kind of particles are cosmic ray showers composed of?

An air shower is an extensive (many kilometres wide) cascade of ionized particles and electromagnetic radiation produced in the atmosphere when a primary cosmic ray (i.e. one of extraterrestrial origin) enters the atmosphere.

What kind of radiation is produced by an air shower?

An air shower is an extensive (many kilometres wide) cascade of ionized particles and electromagnetic radiation produced in the atmosphere when a primary cosmic ray (i.e. one of extraterrestrial origin) enters the atmosphere. When a particle, which could be a proton, a nucleus, an electron, a photon,…

When does a cosmic ray produce many secondary particles?

When a primary cosmic ray produces many secondary particles, we call this an air shower. When many thousand (sometimes millions or even billions) of particles arrive at ground level, perhaps on a mountain, this is called an extensive air shower (EAS).

Where can I find a model of an air shower?

Animated 3d models of this and other showers can be found on COSMUS. Air shower detected in a cloud chamber. An air shower is an extensive (many kilometres wide) cascade of ionized particles and electromagnetic radiation produced in the atmosphere when a primary cosmic ray (i.e. one of extraterrestrial origin) enters the atmosphere.