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Any Geiger counter can be used as an effective cosmic ray detector on its own. In fact, it is known that even in the absence of a radioactive source, the instrument detects what is known as background radiation, which consists of various types of ionizing particles present in the environment. Remarkably, it is estimated that up to 15% of this background radiation is attributable to cosmic rays, high-energy particles originating from outer space. The remaining radiation detected by the Geiger counter originates from terrestrial sources, such as natural radioactivity in the ground and in the air. The main goal of this project is to build a muon detector for scientific and educational purposes using two commercial DIY Geiger counter kits and just a few additional components. To identify cosmic radiation from terrestrial radiation and improve the accuracy of cosmic ray measurements, the use of a coincident circuit is essential. This coincident circuit was introduced in cosmic ray physics by Walther Bothe and Bruno Rossi in the early 1930s and allows for the detection of a subatomic particle passing through two or more sensors, thereby reducing false positives and enhancing the reliability of cosmic ray detection. The following idea is an alternative replica of our AMD5 detectors, instruments that we have been using for years to teach and perform scientific experiments in the cosmic ray field under the umbrella of the ADA project (2023 Particles, Arcani et al.). The resulting device, named AMD5ALI, offers a reliable and inexpensive solution for the same goal, making it a valuable tool for both educational purposes and scientific surveys. Practical applications range from cosmic ray physics to radioactivity, including the relationship between cosmic ray flux and meteorology, the zenithal effect, the Regener–Pfotzer curve in the atmosphere, and the anti-correlation of cosmic particle intensity with solar activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasound (US) "pre-sonication effect" is the beneficial effect of US in the hydrolytic polymerization of epsilon-caprolactam (CL) mixtures with very low water concentrations (about 0.1-1 wt%). It appears after a mild initial treatment of the mixtures with US [17.5-20 kHz, short times (5-15 min), low temperatures (70-110 degrees C)] followed by heating at 220-260 degrees C. An explanation is proposed on the basis of the formation in mild conditions (100 degrees C) of low concentrations of cyclic oligomers never detected in the literature at those conditions. These, under US irradiation, produce linear amino acid oligomers, which are strong activators of polymerization when the mixture of CL and water, after US irradiation, is heated at the suitable polymerization temperature indicated above.

Epsilon-caprolactam (CL) polymerization to polyamide-6 (Nylon 6) was studied at different contents of water in CL (0.01-2 wt%), with or without epsilon-amino-caproic acid (ACA) as an activator, applying to the mixture an initial treatment of Ultrasound (US) (17.5-20 kHz) at low temperatures (70-110 degrees C) and for short times (max 10 min). It was verified that polymerization at 260 degrees C produces a polymer having a much higher molecular weight (MW) when US is applied with respect to silent (SIL) conditions i.e. without the use of ultrasound. This constitutes a "pre-sonication effect". The ratio (MW)(US)/(MW)(SIL) is inversely proportional to the initial content of water in CL. The action of US converts CL at very low temperatures (70-110 degrees C) and water content, in comparison with silent conditions where CL was unconverted. Optimized conditions are studied with respect to nature and pressure of gas inside the reactor, temperature, time and frequency of US irradiation, energy consumption and nature of activator.