Background Radiation Measurements with the Timepix hybrid silicon pixel detector: a CERN@school how-to guide

A how-to guide for making simple background radiation measurements with the Timepix hybrid silicon pixel detector is presented. After introducing the aims and context of the experiment, the equipment, preparatory steps, and detector settings required are listed, as well as guidelines for acquiring and managing the experimental data. Instructions for both the CERN@school Mk1 detector and the Jablotron MX-10 digital particle camera are provided. A number of areas for further investigation are then briefly discussed; members of the CERN@school Collaboration are encouraged to contact the authors with suggestions or queries.

A formal analysis of a sample dataset taken using the procedure outlined here may be found in the paper linked to below.

CERN@school was supported by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) via grant numbers ST/J000256/1 and ST/N00101X/1, as well as a Special Award from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851.