Which secondary particles from cosmic rays can reach sea level?

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When primary cosmic rays collide with nuclei in Earth's atmosphere, they produce secondary particles that can be observed at sea level. These secondary particles include:1

  • Neutrons: Fragments resulting from the collision of primary particles with atmospheric nuclei.12
  • Muons: Short-lived subatomic particles created from the energy of these collisions. Some muons possess such high energy that they can penetrate deep into the Earth.13
  • Electrons and Photons: These are also produced as part of extensive air showers (EASs) generated by very high-energy primary particles.2

While primary cosmic rays themselves are not directly observed at the surface, these secondaries reach ground level, where they can be detected by various instruments.123