Difference between revisions of "Cosmic Rays"
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== Composition == | == Composition == | ||
| − | Primary cosmic consists of about 90% of protons, about 9% of helium nuclei and 1% of heavier nuclei. | + | Primary cosmic consists of about 90% of protons, about 9% of helium nuclei and 1% of heavier nuclei. The precise composition depends on the considered energy range. The energy distribution of primary cosmic particles, as shown o the plot on the right, has a most probable value of about 300 MeV (3 x 10<sup>6</sup>) and drops sharply for increasing energies. |
[[File:Energy spectrum primary cosmic rays.png|0.1px|thumb|right|Energy spectrum of primary cosmic radiation]] | [[File:Energy spectrum primary cosmic rays.png|0.1px|thumb|right|Energy spectrum of primary cosmic radiation]] | ||
Revision as of 09:22, 5 April 2020
Cosmic rays are highly energetic particles which originate from extraterrestrial sources. A distinction between soft cosmic radiation stemming mainly from our sun and hard cosmic radiation produced outside our solar system can be made. When interacting with particles in the earth's atmosphere, primary cosmic rays can induce a high energy shower cascade yielding a multitude of newly produced particles.
Contents
Composition
Primary cosmic consists of about 90% of protons, about 9% of helium nuclei and 1% of heavier nuclei. The precise composition depends on the considered energy range. The energy distribution of primary cosmic particles, as shown o the plot on the right, has a most probable value of about 300 MeV (3 x 106) and drops sharply for increasing energies.
