How To Do Particle Physics On The Cheap

atom physics unremarkably give way deal - in - deal with giant subterranean research adroitness and data - processing measured in petaflops . But if you do n’t have a research deed over the size of Latvia ’s GDP , look into the wonder of subatomic atom can be kinda difficult .

Detecting negative muon , subatomic particles that are the big full cousin of electrons , requires a band - figure Cherenkov detector — and , like most physical science equipment name after Soviet scientist , those do n’t arrive cheap . The solution for three undergraduate ? cut up together their own from a Sony A3000 , choose for its orotund CMOS sensing element .

The key to bend a mirrorless camera into a full-bodied detector , seemingly , is to replace the electron lens with a chunk of magnesium fluoride . The magnesium fluoride slows down light passing through it , to the point where muons travel quicker than light in that medium . Doing so bring forth Cherenkov radiation , which shows up on the camera sensing element as a cone shape of light . And all without having to dig a 17 - Swedish mile burrow under Switzerland .

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