Electromagnetic Cascade Induction

I am currently investigating an effect called a Electromagnetic Cascade or Particle shower as a means of increasing the aperture of a Cosmic Ray (Muon) Detector.

In a 1964 publication on the historical understanding of the nature of the cosmic radiation, the scientist Bruno Rossi describes an experiment where cosmic rays could penetrate dense materials. Finding that cosmic radiation at sea level could penetrate over 1m of lead. In these same experiments he was also surprised to record a higher rate of detection, as many as 35 per hour as the thickness of lead increased peaking at 1.5cm and then falling slowly.

Shower curve obtained by Bruno Rossi’s experiment

When the upper part of the lead shielding was removed the rate fell to about 2 detections per hour. This effect has now been confirmed to be a direct result a Particle showers induced within the lead as the result of a high energy muon passing through triggering an avalanche of electrons, positrons and gamma rays.

Figure 2. Muon induced electromagnetic cascades in lead plate.

A demonstration of cosmic ray induced electromagnetic cascade was also shown to work by Peter Dunne, Preston College, Preston, Lancashire, UK