Wade De La

Abstract:

Deep underground muon events recorded by the Soudan 2 detector, located at a depth of 2100 m of water equivalent, have been used to infer the nuclear composition of cosmic rays in the “knee” region of the cosmic ray energy spectrum. The observed muon multiplicity distribution favors a composition model with a substantial proton content in the energy region [Formula presented]–[Formula presented] GeV/nucleus. © 1997 The American Physical Society.

Abstract:

SOUDAN 2 is a 960-ton tracking calorimeter which has been constructed to search for nucleon decay and other phenomena. The full detector consists of 224 calorimeter modules each weighing 4.3 tons. The modules consist of finely segmented iron instrumented with 1 m long drift tubes of 15 mm internal diameter. The tubes enable three spatial coordinates and dE/ dx to be recorded for charged particles traversing the tubes. The spatial resolution is 0.38 cm in the x-y plane and 0.65 cm in the z, or drift, direction. The operation and performance of the modules are discussed.

Abstract:

SOUDAN 2 is a 960-ton tracking calorimeter which has been constructed to search for nucleon decay and other phenomena. The full detector consists of 224 calorimeter modules each weighing 4.3 tons. The design and construction of the modules are described. The modules consist of finely segmented iron instrumented with 1 m long drift tubes of 15 mm internal diameter. The tubes enable three spatial coordinates and dE/dx to be recorded for charged particles traversing the tubes.

Abstract:

The Soudan 2 experiment has performed time-coincident cosmic ray air shower and underground muon measurements. Comparisons to Monte Carlo predictions show that such measurements can make statistically significant tests of the primary composition in the knee region of the cosmic ray spectrum. The results do not support any significant increase in the average primary mass with energy in the range of 104 TeV per nucleus. Some systematic uncertainties remain, however, particularly in the Monte Carlo modeling of the cosmic ray shower. © 1995 The American Physical Society.

Abstract:

A search for grand unified theory magnetic monopoles making highly ionizing tracks in argon gas has been conducted using the Soudan 2 nucleon decay detector. This underground detector is a large fine-grained tracking calorimeter comprised of long drift tubes read out by proportional wires. No monopole candidates were observed in data taken over almost three years, yielding an upper flux limit of 8.7 × 10-15 cm-2s-1sr-1 for monopole velocities of >2×10-3. © 1992 The American Physical Society.