Undergraduate Modern Physics Laboratory Experience: Exploration of Cosmic Rays at Jungfraujoch with MiniPIX

Cosmic rays are a fascinating topic and a great way to introduce students to particle physics. The MiniPIX detector allows for students to observe ionizing radiation in a way that demonstrates the properties of each type of particle. This project demonstrated the effectiveness of the MiniPIX detector as a tool for educational outreach during a visit to the Jungfraujoch Sphinx Observatory where measurements of the cosmic radiation were taken. Data was also collected at CERN (430m) and compared to the high altitude data from Jungfraujoch (3450 m). Four variables were tested: altitude, indoor vs. outdoor placement, detector orientation, and detector direction. Measurements showed increased alpha counts at high altitude and higher electron and muon counts outdoors. Vertical orientation facing West yielded the highest muon counts, consistent with the East-West effect. The results demonstrate the MiniPIX detector’s value for student laboratory exercises and outreach, providing a way to observe and analyze cosmic rays.