Influence of the geomagnetic field and of the uncertainties in the primary spectrum on the development of the muon flux in the atmosphere

Journal Article · Fri Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 2005 · Physical Review. D, Particles Fields

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.71.083012· OSTI ID:20709050

Hansen, P; Gaisser, T K; Stanev, T; Sciutto, S J ^[1]

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1. Bartol Research Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716 (United States)

In this paper we study the sensitivity of the flux of atmospheric muons to uncertainties in the primary cosmic ray spectrum and to the treatment of the geomagnetic field. We use the air shower simulation program AIRES to make the calculation for two different primary spectra and under several approximations to the propagation of charged particles in the geomagnetic field. The results illustrate the importance of accurate modeling of the geomagnetic field effects. We propose a high and a low fit of the proton and helium fluxes, and calculate the muon fluxes with these different inputs. Comparison with measurements of the muon flux by the CAPRICE experiment shows a slight preference for the higher primary cosmic ray flux parametrization.

• OSTI ID: 20709050
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields, Vol. 71, Issue 8; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.71.083012; (c) 2005 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
COSMIC MUONS
COSMIC PROTONS
COSMIC RAY DETECTION
COSMIC SHOWERS
ENERGY SPECTRA
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
HELIUM
PRIMARY COSMIC RADIATION
SENSITIVITY