The Maximum Detectable Momentum for cosmic ray muons in the MINOS far detector

TL;DR

This paper discusses the maximum momentum at which cosmic ray muons can be accurately measured in the MINOS detector, considering magnetic bending and multiple scattering effects.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the maximum detectable muon momentum in MINOS, accounting for magnetic field and material interactions.

Findings

Maximum detectable muon momentum is limited by magnetic bending and scattering.

Charge ratio measurements are affected by these measurement limits.

Quantitative estimates of measurement resolution at high energies.

Abstract

A magnetic detector such as MINOS which is measuring the sign of muons has to deal with issues of bending, which depend on the magnetic field configuration, and multiple scattering, which depends on the amount of material which is traversed. Above some momentum which depends on these factors, the momentum cannot be resolved. Issues related to measurement of the muon charge ratio in MINOS are discussed.