Cascade shower: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 08:55, 26 March 2024

(Also air shower, cascade, extensive air shower, shower.) Multiple generations of secondary cosmic rays produced when primary cosmic rays interact with atoms in the upper atmosphere, yielding subatomic particles and gamma rays. The secondary cosmic rays in turn produce even more down through the atmosphere.
Billions of these particles travel downward at nearly the speed of light and at ground level may extend over several square kilometers (in which instance the shower may be termed an extensive air shower). The maximum flux of cosmic rays, both primary and secondary, is at an altitude of 20 km, and below this the absorption by the atmosphere reduces the flux, though the rays are still readily detectable at sea level. Intensity of cosmic ray showers has also been observed to vary with latitude, being more intense at the poles.
Friedlander, M. W. 1989. Cosmic Rays. pp. 13, 79.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Term
+|Display title=cascade shower
-{{TermHeader}}
+|Definitions={{Definition
-{{TermSearch}}
+|Num=1
+|Meaning=
-<div class="termentry">
+(Also air shower, cascade, extensive air shower, shower.) Multiple generations of  secondary [[cosmic rays]] produced when primary cosmic rays interact with atoms in the [[upper atmosphere|upper  atmosphere]], yielding subatomic [[particles]] and [[gamma rays]]. The secondary cosmic rays in turn  produce even more down through the [[atmosphere]].<br/> Billions of these particles travel downward at nearly the [[speed of light]] and at ground level may  extend over several square kilometers (in which instance the shower may be termed an extensive  air shower). The maximum flux of cosmic rays, both primary and secondary, is at an [[altitude]] of  20 km, and below this the [[absorption]] by the atmosphere reduces the [[flux]], though the rays are  still readily detectable at [[sea level]]. Intensity of cosmic ray showers has also been observed to vary  with latitude, being more intense at the poles.<br/> Friedlander, M. W. 1989. Cosmic Rays. pp. 13, 79.
-  <div class="term">
+}}
-== cascade shower ==
+}}
-  </div>
-<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">(Also air shower, cascade, extensive air shower, shower.) Multiple generations of  secondary [[cosmic rays]] produced when primary cosmic rays interact with atoms in the [[upper atmosphere|upper  atmosphere]], yielding subatomic [[particles]] and [[gamma rays]]. The secondary cosmic rays in turn  produce even more down through the [[atmosphere]].</div><br/> <div class="paragraph">Billions of these particles travel downward at nearly the [[speed of light]] and at ground level may  extend over several square kilometers (in which instance the shower may be termed an extensive  air shower). The maximum flux of cosmic rays, both primary and secondary, is at an [[altitude]] of  20 km, and below this the [[absorption]] by the atmosphere reduces the [[flux]], though the rays are  still readily detectable at [[sea level]]. Intensity of cosmic ray showers has also been observed to vary  with latitude, being more intense at the poles.</div><br/> </div><div class="reference">Friedlander, M. W. 1989. Cosmic Rays. pp. 13, 79. </div><br/>
-</div>
-{{TermIndex}}
-{{TermFooter}}
-[[Category:Terms_C]]