Applications of Large Scintillation Detectors to Cosmic Ray Experiments

Abstract

Large scintillation detectors have been employed in several areas of cosmic ray investigation at M.I.T., including air shower studies, μ-meson polarization measurements, μ-meson intensity monitoring, and a search for cosmic γ rays. In all cases the special advantages of the scintillation technique have been an essential part of the experimental concepts. The general principles of the design of large detectors are discussed. Descriptions are given of the construction and performances of several detectors with sensitive areas as large as 3.6 m ² .