A compact apparatus for muon lifetime measurement and time dilation demonstration in the undergraduate laboratory

We describe a compact apparatus for measuring the charge-averaged lifetime of atmospheric muons in plastic scintillator using low-cost, low-power electronics. We present measurements of the stopping rate of atmospheric muons as a function of altitude to demonstrate relativistic time dilation. The apparatus is designed for the advanced undergraduate physics laboratory and is suitable for field measurements. [DOI: 10.1119/1.2135319]