| Particle Name | Structure | Source | Typical Energy1 |
Stopping Distance2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| alpha particle | helium nucleus | radioactive decay | 100 MeV | 1cm in air |
| beta particle | electron | radioactive decay | 10 MeV | 10cm in air |
| primary cosmic rays | 85% protons 10-15% alpha particles |
solar corona | 2000 MeV (average) | 1km in air |
| secondary cosmic rays | mainly various types of muons, neutrons, protons, electrons, positrons and an electromagnetic component. | collisions between primary cosmic rays and atoms of the Earth's atmosphere | variable | 10km in air |
| neutrinos | neutrinos | core of the sun | 10eV | infinite |
| high energy cosmic rays | various atomic nuclei | unknown exotic astronomical objects are suspected, perhaps supernova, collapsing black holes etc. |
TeV | 1-2 km into the Earth's crust |
| 11eV=1.6x10-19J 2Stopping distance of the particle or its collision fragments. |