Measurements of cosmic-ray charged particle ionization and flux densities in the atmosphere

Technical Report · Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7211780· OSTI ID:7211780

Lowder, W. M.; Beck, H. L.; Raft, P. D.

The results of ionization rate and flux density measurements of cosmic-ray charged particles with balloon-borne, high-pressure argon ionization chambers and GM counters are presented for flights from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in September 1972 and from Fort Churchill, Manitoba, in July 1973. Ionization rate data from Health and Safety Laboratory equipment are compared with measurements made on the same flights with a standard California Institute of Technology argon chamber which has been used for many decades to obtain profiles of cosmic-ray ionization rates in the atmosphere. It is tentatively concluded from these comparisons and other evidence that the latter measurements overestimate the ionization rates by about 10 %.

• Research Organization: Energy Research and Development Administration, New York (USA). Health and Safety Lab.
• OSTI ID: 7211780
• Report Number(s): HASL-324
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640101* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmic Radiation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AIR
ARGON
CHARGED PARTICLES
COSMIC RADIATION
COSMIC RAY FLUX
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
FLUX DENSITY
GASES
IONIZATION
IONIZATION CHAMBERS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORING
NONMETALS
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATION FLUX
RADIATIONS
RARE GASES