La red internacional de rayos cósmicos, Manuel Sandoval Vallarta y la física en México

Abstract

As part of the establishment of an international cosmic ray network for studying the geographical distribution of cosmic rays, in 1932 Arthur Holly Compton organized a huge expedition to North Canada, Michigan, Illinois, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, Peru, and Mexico. In this expedition a group of experts was coordinated and distributed by different travel routes.For arranging this cosmic ray network it was necessary to contact with people and institutions at the local places where the measurements were to be taken. Also,it was implied the construction and standardization of instruments, as well as the techniques to take measurements. Circulation of scientific instruments, persons and practices were essential for executing the expedition. Mexico was one of the places where the cosmic ray measurements were taken. It was through intervention of Manuel Sandoval Vallarta (who at the moment was Associate Professor of the Physics Department at the MIT) that this could be done. Also, a group of engineers from the University of Mexico participated in this task. At the end of the thirties, this collaboration was used as a key factor for the creation of the first institute of physics in Mexico.