A study of the primary cosmic ray composition in the energy range 5.10(14)-5.10(15) 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.

Study of the primary cosmic ray composition around the knee of the energy spectrum

SPINELLI, Paolo;ERRIQUEZ, Onofrio;FUSCO, Piergiorgio;BELLOTTI, Roberto
1994-01-01

Abstract

A study of the primary cosmic ray composition in the energy range 5.10(14)-5.10(15) 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.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11586/128906
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