OBSERVATIONS OF EXTENSIVE AIR SHOWERS. VI. THE RATIO OF THE SOFT TO PENETRATING COMPONENTS AND THEIR ATTENUATION IN THE ATMOSPHERE

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1958 · Phil. Mag.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/14786435808237019· OSTI ID:4306501

Cranshaw, T E; de Beer, J F; Galbraith, W

Measurements were made of the ratio of mu -mesons to electrons as a function of shower size and barometric pressure for showers containing about 5 x 10/sup 6/ particles at sea level. The change of rate with atmospheric pressure and temperature is also described, and it is shown how, on the assumption that all showers sulfer the same attenuation, these measurements yield the attenuation lengths of electrons and mu -mesons. At each stage. the measurements are compared with the results of other experiments, and finally with various theories of the nucleon cascade. It is shown that none of the theories fits the data well, and that one may suspect the assumption of similar attenuation for all showers. Possible mechanisms giving rise to a distribution of attenuation lengths are briefly discussed, and a case made for an experimental investigation of this point. (auth)

• Research Organization: Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, Berks., Eng.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-12-016462
• OSTI ID: 4306501
• Journal Information: Phil. Mag., Journal Name: Phil. Mag. Vol. Vol: (8) 3
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ABSORPTION
ATMOSPHERE
ATTENUATION
COSMIC RADIATION
ELECTRONS
ENERGY LEVELS
EXTENSIVE AIR SHOWERS
INTERACTIONS
LEVELS
MEASURED VALUES
MUONS
NUCLEONS
PHYSICS
PRESSURE
SCATTERING
SEA LEVEL
TEMPERATURE
TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT
TRANSIENTS