air shower

noun

1. a shower of secondary cosmic radiation, caused by the interaction of cosmic radiation or gamma radiation with the atmosphere.

Word History and Origins

Origin of air shower¹

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

When a very high-energy particle strikes Earth’s atmosphere, it triggers a cascade of secondary particles in an event known as an “air shower.”

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The Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory, the biggest device of its kind, has detected a dozen sources of ultra high-energy gamma rays, according to a study in the journal Nature, from what Cao calls “many hot spots,” in our Milky Way galaxy.

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On the other hand, the air shower could have the positive effect of limiting sideways movements of air.

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On the way to lockers and an air shower that blows dust off their clothes, workers pass a small break area.

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The field will also greatly benefit from the operations of facilities such as the future international Cherenkov Telescope Array and the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory in Daocheng, China.

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