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An Investigation, using Scintillation Counters, of ‘Double Stars’ due to Cosmic Rays

Abstract

THE number of close pairs of stars formed in ‘Nuclear Research’ emulsion is greater than expected if the stars are independent and distributed at random1,2. It was suggested that a neutral radiation capable of star production was emitted isotropically from all stars. For this hypothesis it was necessary to assume that fourteen penetrating particles were produced per star, and that these particles interacted with nuclei with a geometrical cross-section. It was therefore decided to investigate the time correlation between events producing large pulses of ionization in scintillation crystals, to find if double stars are also produced at greater separations than can be observed by the photographic plate technique.

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References

  1. Li and Perkins, Nature, 161, 844 (1948); Phil. Mag., 41, 1152 (1948).

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  2. Leprince-Ringuet and Heidmann, Nature, 161, 844 (1948).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Harding, J. B., A.E.R.E. Report, N/R 804 (1952).

  4. Lattimore, S. (private communication).

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HARDING, J. An Investigation, using Scintillation Counters, of ‘Double Stars’ due to Cosmic Rays. Nature 169, 747–748 (1952). https://doi.org/10.1038/169747a0

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