Study of the ultrahigh-energy primary-cosmic-ray composition with the MACRO experiment

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.46.895· OSTI ID:7287055

Ahlen, S; Ambrosio, M; Antolini, R; Auriemma, G; Baldini, A; Bam, B B; Barbarino, G C; Barish, B C; Battistoni, G; Bellotti, R; Bemporad, C; Bernardini, P; Bilokon, H; Bisi, V; Bloise, C; Bussino, S; Cafagna, F; Calicchio, M; Campana, P; Campana, D ; Carboni, M; Cecchini, S; Cei, F; Chiarella, V; Chiera, C; Cobis, A; Cormack, R; Corona, A; Coutu, S; DeCataldo, G; DeMarzo, C; De Vincenzi, M; Di Credico, A; Diehl, E; Erriquez, O; Favuzzi, C; Ficenec, D; Forti, C; Foti, L; Fusco, P; Giacomelli, G; Giannini, G; Giglietto, N; Giubellino, P; Grassi, M; Green, P; Grillo, A; Guarino, F; Gustavino, C; Habig, A; Heinz, R; Hong, J T; Iarocci, E; Katsavounidis, E; Kearns, E; Klein, S; Kyriazopoulou, S; Lamanna, E; Lane, C; Lee, C; Levin, D; Lipari, P; Liu, G; Liu, R; Longo, M J; Ludlam, G; Mancarella, G; Mandrioli, G; Margiotta-Neri, A; Marin, A; Marini, A; Martello, D; Martellotti, G; Marzari Chiesa, A; Masera, M; Matteuzzi,

We present the analysis of multiple-muon events collected with one supermodule (1013 h live time) and two supermodules (1195 h live time) of the MACRO detector at Gran Sasso, Italy. Multimuon rates are shown to be sensitive to primary-cosmic-ray energies between {similar to}50 TeV and several thousand TeV. Experimental data are compared with the expected rates from two composition models: a light (i.e., proton-rich) and a heavy (i.e., Fe-rich) composition. The predictions are based on a Monte Carlo simulation of the hadronic interactions of cosmic-ray nuclei, followed by a detailed tracking of the muons through the rock and the experimental apparatus. The results show good sensitivity of the MACRO detector to primary composition. The data exhibit a preference towards the light composition model.

• OSTI ID: 7287055
• Journal Information: Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (United States), Vol. 46:3; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
HADRON-HADRON INTERACTIONS
MULTIPLE PRODUCTION
MUONS
PRIMARY COSMIC RADIATION
MUON DETECTION
COSMIC RAY DETECTION
ENERGY SPECTRA
IRON
MONTE CARLO METHOD
SIMULATION
TEV RANGE 10-100
TEV RANGE 100-1000
CHARGED PARTICLE DETECTION
COSMIC RADIATION
DETECTION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY RANGE
FERMIONS
INTERACTIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LEPTONS
METALS
PARTICLE INTERACTIONS
PARTICLE PRODUCTION
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA
TEV RANGE
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
662340* - Hadron Interactions- (1992-)