Detecting heavy element cosmic rays

[spcomusr]

cosmic rays coming in various shapes and sizes, which is news to me. Here’s the link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210706102035.htm
Question: what kind of detectors are used to discriminate and detect these other sizes of cosmic rays?Would they be variations on your basic type of photomultiplier as found in a spectrophotometer? Thank you.

 

[Catastrophe]

Of course, heavy element in this context means anything heavier than H or He. And therefore much less abundant. More information on specific identities would have been useful

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