|
|||||
|
|
Muon density measurements with the KASCADE central detector |
|
| Institution: | a Institut für Kernphysik, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany b National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 7690 Bucharest, Romania c Cosmic Ray Division, Yerevan Physics Institute, Yerevan 36, Armenia d Institut für Experimentelle Kernphysik, University of Karlsruhe, 76021 Karlsruhe, Germany e Department of Experimental Physics, University of Lodz, 90236 Lodz, Poland f Soltan Institute for Nuclear Studies, 90950 Lodz, Poland |
| Abstract: | Frequency distributions of local muon densities in high-energy extensive air showers (EAS) are presented as signature of the primary cosmic ray energy spectrum in the knee region. Together with the gross shower variables like shower core position, angle of incidence, and the shower sizes, the KASCADE experiment is able to measure local muon densities for two different muon energy thresholds. The spectra have been reconstructed for various core distances, as well as for particular subsamples, classified on the basis of the shower size ratio Nμ/Ne. The measured density spectra of the total sample exhibit clear kinks reflecting the knee of the primary energy spectrum. While relatively sharp changes of the slopes are observed in the spectrum of EAS with small values of the shower size ratio, no such feature is detected at EAS of large Nμ/Ne ratio in the energy range of 1–10 PeV. Comparing the spectra for various thresholds and core distances with detailed Monte Carlo simulations the validity of EAS simulations is discussed. |
| Keywords: | Cosmic rays Air shower Muon component energy spectrum mass composition |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ | |