Search for cosmic rays at Patsio in the Great Himalayan: a preliminary task

The present study is a preliminary step towards the detection of cosmic rays at higher altitude in the Great Himalayan range. Present work is an attempt to see the possibility of the presence of cosmic rays at a height of 3800 m from the sea level in the Great Himalayan range. An experiment was planned for the search of galactic cosmic rays (GCR) using CR39 track etch detectors at the Patsio DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organization) laboratory in the Great Himalayan range, India at a height of 3800 m from the sea level and 32° 45′ N, 77° 15′ E. CR39 detectors were etched in 8N NaOH solution + 3% ethyl alcohol at 70 °C to visualize the tracks produced in the exposed detectors under optical microscope. A detection threshold of CR39 detector down to Z = 18 (Z/β ~ 27) was obtained. After scanning, fine tracks were observed and it was concluded that that high Z cosmic rays may be present at an altitude of 3800 m from the sea level in the Great Himalayan range.