Measurement of the primary cosmic electron spectrum from 10 to about 250 GeV

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA081i022p03944· OSTI ID:7261860

Silverberg, R F

The intensity and energy spectrum of primary cosmic electrons from 10 to approx.250 GeV have been studied by using balloon-borne detectors. The detectors were large-area ionization calorimeters which sampled showering particles frequently and demonstrated an energy resolution of approx.7% in calibration tests. On one of the flights a time-of-flight system and detectors to sample the lateral properties of showers were used to examine and to test background rejection. The results of the balloon flights from Alamogordo, New Mexico, in 1970 and Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in 1972 indicated that the primary cosmic ray electron differential energy spectrum exhibits no change of slope in the energy range measured and is well represented by a power law, dJ/dE= (430 +- 110) E/sup -3//sup .//sup 10//sup plus-or-minus//sup 0//sup .//sup 08/ el/m/sup 2/ sr s GeV. These results indicate that the cosmic electrons spectrum is steeper than the cosmic ray proton spectrum. It is shown that these data are consistent with the leakage lifetime model for the propagation of cosmic electrons in the galaxy, although other more complex models cannot be excluded on the basis of these data. (AIP)

• Research Organization: Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
• OSTI ID: 7261860
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 81:22; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640101* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmic Radiation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BALLOONS
COSMIC ELECTRONS
COSMIC RADIATION
COSMIC SHOWERS
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY RANGE
ENERGY SPECTRA
FERMIONS
GEV RANGE
GEV RANGE 10-100
GEV RANGE 100-1000
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LEPTONS
PRIMARY COSMIC RADIATION
RADIATIONS
SECONDARY COSMIC RADIATION
SHOWERS
SPECTRA