About the MuonLab project

MuonLab measurements on cosmic rays

The MuonLab physics project allows students to detect an important constituent of cosmic rays, the muon. The tabletop instrument, designed in the Dutch Institute for Subatomic Physics (Nikhef), is suitable for research and education in schools and universities. The apparatus is produced by Nikhef and is sold at a non profit base.

The MuonLab apparatus has proven to operate very conveniently, as well for research as for educational purposes. Many projects with students from high schools in the Netherlands have been performed and have resulted in satisfactory results. Students reacted enthusiastically and in some cases even produced elaborate reports on the particle physics background of the experiment.

Particle Toys project

The MuonLab instrument is part of the Particle Toys project, which has been set up at Nikhef by Frank Linde in order to make available instruments for experiments on particle physics. A large number of MuonLab instruments have been produced by Nikhef and have been sold at cost price to universities in the Netherlands and to institutes in Vietnam, Thailand, Spain and Germany. The price of the equipment, including all necessary parts, a manual and an exe file of the LabView program, is € 3000, tax included. Teachers and scientists who are interested may contact Professor Frank Linde at the Nikhef Institute, f.linde@nikhef.nl

Use of the MuonLab instrument

The MuonLab instrument has been constructed for hands-on experiments and demonstrations in classrooms of high-schools.

By registering coincidences in a two detector setup, students can also measure the production of secondary particles produced in sheets of lead placed above the detectors.

Creative students can use the setup to study the angular dependence of the muon flux, or to measure the influence of weather conditions.

Practical work by students using the instrument should only be done under the guidance of an experienced teacher.