Topography with Muons
Richard Lombardini, St. Marys University
Accuracy for 3D positioning is affected by surrounding media when using traditional techniques such as GPS. Other devices may need to be developed that produce readings unaltered by the conditions of the local environment (Tanaka 2020). The trajectory of highly energetic atmospheric muons experience very little change when traveling through different media, and the flux of particles is uniform and ubiquitous along surface of Earth. Using the TeachSpin muon detectors and theories of special relativity and quantum mechanics learned in class, students will determine the level of accuracy that they can achieve in the measurement of elevation at any location by directly measuring muon stopping rates.