Abstract
Experiments on cosmic rays and the elementary particles share a common history that dates back to the 19th century. Following the discovery of radioactivity in the 1890s, the paths of the two fields intertwined, especially during the decades after the discovery of cosmic rays. Experiments demonstrated that the primary cosmic rays are positively charged particles, while other studies of cosmic rays revealed various new sub-atomic particles, including the first antiparticle. Techniques developed in common led to the birth of neutrino astronomy in 1987 and the first observation of a cosmic γ-ray source by a ground-based cosmic-ray telescope in 1989.
Highlights
Introduction“There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy . . . ” (Hamlet, William Shakespeare)
Experiments on cosmic rays and the elementary particles share a common history that dates back to the 19th century
The two fields have an intertwined history that goes back beyond the discovery of cosmic rays more than a century ago. This account takes a look at a few highlights of that common history, from the perspective of an experimental particle physicist, with elements in the history of cosmic-ray physics interspersed with brief “interludes” on contemporary developments in the physics of elementary particles
Summary
“There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy . . . ” (Hamlet, William Shakespeare). “There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy . The modern fields of cosmic-ray studies and experimental particle physics have much in common, as they both investigate the high-energy interactions of subatomic particles. The two fields have an intertwined history that goes back beyond the discovery of cosmic rays more than a century ago. This account takes a look at a few highlights of that common history, from the perspective of an experimental particle physicist, with elements in the history of cosmic-ray physics interspersed with brief “interludes” on contemporary developments in the physics of elementary particles
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