Cosmic rays - AHAC review

The following are some projects on cosmic rays from the AHAC website.

Radiation Detection in various high altitude environments.
This is a project embarked on by students of University of Alabama in Huntsville.The name of the project is Physoon; a balloon-like payload that was designed to explore high-energy radiation and cosmic rays(particularly gamma ray flashes and glows) in space. The main reason physoon was built was to have a better understanding of increases in radiations from thunderstorms. To ensure that this project was going to work, some control measures such as passing the physoon through and above thunderstorms, through the great american solar eclipse and during a normal sunny day were taken. Other tests such as drop tests and rain tests were performed; all to ensure that the physoon performed as planned.

Detecting cosmic rays using CMOS sensors in consumer devices.
Cosmic rays increase with altitude. CMOS(Complementary metal oxide semiconductor) Sensor is a sensor used to detect cosmic rays. It detects cosmic rays by depositing a charge on the sensor when cosmic rays come into contact with it.The CMOS sensor is very small( 0.15cm^2 ) so very little amount of cosmic ray is able to enter. This particular project was designed to utilize CMOS sensors for longer durations and to solve the problem of its inability to distinguish between photons of light and charged particles. A GoPro Hero HD sensor was used in an attempt to solve the problem by blocking light from entering the CMOS sensor.

Cosmic Ray Air Shower Lateral Coincidence.
Cosmic Rays increase with altitude. Using omnidirectional cosmic count flux, the vertical coincidence flux and the horizontal coincidence flux during balloon flights, cosmic rays  have been discovered over the years to have maximum count at a certain altitude called the Regner-Pfotzer maximum.This is the altitude at which the maximum ionizing particles are detected. This project is designed by University of Minnesota, Morris , to study the structure of cosmic ray flux versus altitude. It was also aimed to confirm the Regener-Pfotzer maximum and to examine the effects of atmospheric conditions on cosmic ray showers using mathematical description of both as a function of altitude and other atmospheric conditions.

High Altitude Cosmic Ray Detection.
Cosmic Rays enter the earth with different energy levels as a result of the angle in which they enter. The angle in which the cosmic ray enters the earth can affect the number of cosmic rays and energies at each level. This project by St. Catherine University - St. Paul, Minnesota was aimed at researching this.

Common Themes
All projects seek to better understand cosmic rays so as to reduce the increase in radiation while using different methods to achieve this.

Common Methods
Use of sensors and balloon flights and control methods.

Common Challenges
Cosmic rays vary at each altitude and there is the interruption of other things such a photons of light.