A study of the primary cosmic ray composition in the energy range 5ṡ1014-5ṡ1015 eV is performed through the analysis of the deep underground muons and of the e.m. component of Extensive Air Showers detected in coincidence by the MACRO and EAS-TOP experiments at the Gran Sasso Laboratory. We conclude that: a) pure proton and Iron primary beams are excluded by the experimental data; b) a fraction of nuclei heavier than Helium is necessary to explain the experimental data both below and above the knee; c) a mixed composition, obtained a priori from extrapolations of the spectra directly measured below 100 TeV, yields a reasonable account of the observations up to the knee of the primary spectrum. © 1994.
Aglietta M., Alessandro B., Antonioli P., Arneodo F., Bergamasco L., Bertaina M., et al. (1994). Study of the primary cosmic ray composition around the knee of the energy spectrum. PHYSICS LETTERS. SECTION B, 337(3-4), 376-382 [10.1016/0370-2693(94)90991-1].
Study of the primary cosmic ray composition around the knee of the energy spectrum
Giacomelli G.;Margiotta-Neri A.;Patrizii L.;Spurio M.;
1994
Abstract
A study of the primary cosmic ray composition in the energy range 5ṡ1014-5ṡ1015 eV is performed through the analysis of the deep underground muons and of the e.m. component of Extensive Air Showers detected in coincidence by the MACRO and EAS-TOP experiments at the Gran Sasso Laboratory. We conclude that: a) pure proton and Iron primary beams are excluded by the experimental data; b) a fraction of nuclei heavier than Helium is necessary to explain the experimental data both below and above the knee; c) a mixed composition, obtained a priori from extrapolations of the spectra directly measured below 100 TeV, yields a reasonable account of the observations up to the knee of the primary spectrum. © 1994.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
