My focus was on cosmic rays, streams of highly energized particles travelling in random directions in intergalactic space, and their significance in the future of clean energy.
Starting off, I began researching this topic on multiple databases supplied by the school. I scowered academic journals in search of information. I found out that the study of cosmic rays is a relatively new subject area and there was not much information on their behavior. The information that was found was not digestable for a high school student who was, at the time of access, just learning what a derivative was in calculus. The advanced astrophysical calculations flew over my head, but conceptually the idea of the function of cosmic rays, after a few weeks, was able to be put into relatively layman's terms. Cosmic rays are streams of particles (usually electrons, protons, photons, heavy nuclei, and other subatomic particles) accelerated due to some unknown source. We study these rays through water tanks, the biggest facility is located in Argentina. The quest is predicted to solve the question of the source of this galactic phenomenon, but in the process the scientists may have found an alternative energy source. The full length of my research is available in the following link to the scientific literature review for this project:
Scientific Literature Review - Alternative Materials Demonstrating Cerenkov Radiation
AMDCR Abstract - A Summary
Cosmic rays are streams of energized particles accelerated by astrophysical phenomena. These rays are usually made up of nuclei, protons, electrons, neutrinos, and other subatomic particles. When these rays collide with Earth's atmosphere, the collisions create extensive air showers (EASs) that rain down particles. These EASs are studied at observatories such as IceCube and the Pierre Auger Observatory through water tanks. AS an EAS particle travels through water, it creates a light streak referred to as Cerenkov radiation. Radiation occurs when a particle is moving within a medium at speeds faster than light within a medium. A common problem amongst cosmic ray research is that observatories do not have enough funding or the sufficient equipment needed to make definitive conclusions in an effective manner. The main problems is the constant maintenance to keep the water in their tanks deionized and free of microorganisms that may obscure data results.
To improve upon the research, calculations for a better material that could be used within the tanks at cosmic ray observatories were completed. Using an example from the radioactive beta decay of krypton-85, a feasible experiment was produced. Using the known velocity of a cosmic ray proton, a material was found to replace water in observatories. Titanium dioxide has a high enough index of refraction to induce Cerenkov radiation.
To demonstrate this process, a model was created out of cardboard and foam. Each index card within the model explains a specific step in the observation process.
Experimentation
After research had finished, the real fun began. Experimentation was a hard and difficult process as I was working in complete theoretical situations. Most of my execution involved mathematics and chemistry. My ultimate goal was to improve upon the current process and equipment used in cosmic ray observatories. Pierre Auger Observatory, the largest cosmic ray facility, uses water tanks in a remote location to observe the stray muon particles that may enter the water. This process is expensive and time consuming, as the water has to be consistently cleaned, deionized, and cleared of any microorganisms. My ultimate goal though my project was to find an alternate material to be used in these tanks that would perform the same function as water, but be much cheaper to maintain. The following link is to the official Pierre Auger Observatory website and their current findings in cosmic rays: Pierre Auger Observatory Website
Follow this link in order to view my progress report on my capstone project as of January 2019: Progress Report on AMDCR
The day-to-day progress can be viewed at the following link to my engineering journal: Capstone Engineering Notebook
In order to find a new material, a physical property of water needed to be copied. In my research, I found that water is used in the observing tanks since as muons enter the material they emit Cerenkov radiation. Cerenkov radiation occurs when a particle moves faster than the speed of light within the same medium due to the index of refraction of the medium bending the path of the light photon and not the path of the particle. Using chemical reactions and known properties of cosmic ray velocities, I found an alternate material that would work as well as water in observatories: Titanium Dioxide. The following image is my project board for the science fairs I competed in.
Following the completion of my project, I competed at the Jersey Shore Science Fair at Stockton University in the category Upper Earth and Space Sciences. I took home the third place trophy and moved onto the next round. I then competed in the Delaware Valley Science Fair held at the Greater Philly Expo Center. I am happy to say I won first place the category Upper Earth and Space Sciences for the tristate area.