THE DISTRIBUTION OF ENERGY IN THE ELECTRON-PHOTON COMPONENT OF EXTENSIVE AIR SHOWERS

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1963 · Proc. Phys. Soc. (London)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0370-1328/82/1/312· OSTI ID:4659045

Lillicrap, S C; Wills, R D; Turver, K E

ABS>An array of four water Cherenkov detectors of variable depth was used to study extensive air showers of size 10/sup 5/ to 10/sup 6/ particles. The amount of Cherenkov light produced is a measure of the total electron track length in the detectors resulting from the incident spectrum of electrons and photons. The difference between the lateral structure function as measured by the Cherenkov detectors and the known particle density distribution function is therefore related to the presence of cascading or attenuation in the water. This was confirmed by observations with Geiger counters above and below a detector. These effects in the water are thus a measure of the energy of the electronphoton component. The energy carried by this component per shower electron was found to vary between 440 plus or minus 60 Mev at a distance of 2 m from the shower axis and 195 plus or minus 35 Mev at l2 m distance. The part of this energy that is carried by photons was found to be greater than that carried by electrons throughout most of the region examined. (auth)

• Research Organization: Imperial Coll. of Science and Tech., London
• NSA Number: NSA-17-032890
• OSTI ID: 4659045
• Journal Information: Proc. Phys. Soc. (London), Journal Name: Proc. Phys. Soc. (London) Vol. Vol: 82
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ATMOSPHERE
CHERENKOV COUNTERS
COSMIC RADIATION
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTRONS
ENERGY
EXTENSIVE AIR SHOWERS
GEIGER-MUELLER COUNTERS
LATTICES
MEASURED VALUES
PHOTONS
PHYSICS
SCATTERING
WATER