Measuring Muon Flux of Davis Cavern at Sanford Underground Research Facility — 18p — Ashley Marines, Andrew Freeman

Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) depth and rock stability make it ideal for sensitive physics experiments that need to escape high energy cosmic radiation from the sun. These experiments require minimal background interference from cosmic rays and radioactive decays. Muons, a fundamental subatomic particle, similar to electrons but over 207 times heavier. Muons are produced when cosmic rays collide with particles in the Earth’s atmosphere. Despite existing for only 2.2 microseconds before decaying into an electron and neutrinos, their near-light speed allows them to travel significant distances, constantly bombarding the Earth’s surface and penetrating substances to depths of over a mile. Using a QuarkNet Cosmic Ray Muon Detector collected in the Davis Cavern at the 4850 level in SURF. Although the underground location at SURF provides significant shielding from muons, accurately measuring the muon flux in the Davis Cavern can guide decisions regarding future experiments.

Black Hills State University
Ellie Bishop