Cosmic muons, as messengers from the Universe

Journal Article · Tue Feb 24 04:00:00 EST 2015 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4909573· OSTI ID:22390970

Penetrating from the outer space into the Earth atmosphere, primary cosmic rays are producing secondary radiation by the collisions with the air target subsequently decaying in hadrons, pions, muons, electrons and photons, phenomenon called Extensive air Shower (EAS). The muons, considered as the “penetrating” component, survive the propagation to the Earth and even they are no direct messenger of the Universe, they reflect the features of the primary particles. The talk gives a description of the development of the extensive air showers generating the secondary particles, especially the muon component. Results of the muon flux and of the muon charge ratio, (the ratio between the positive and the negative muons), obtained in different laboratories and in WILLI experiment, are shown. At the end, the contribution of the muons measured in EAS to the investigation of the nature of the primary cosmic rays is emphasized in KASCADE and WILLI-EAS experiments.

• OSTI ID: 22390970
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 1645; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
COSMIC MUONS
COSMIC RAY PROPAGATION
ELECTRONS
EXPERIMENT PLANNING
EXTENSIVE AIR SHOWERS
MINUS-PLUS RATIO
MUON DETECTION
PHOTONS
PIONS
PRIMARY COSMIC RADIATION
UNIVERSE