High energy cosmic ray physics with underground muons in MACRO. II. Primary spectra and composition

Published

Journal Article

Multimuon data from the MACRO experiment at Gran Sasso have been analyzed using a new method, which allows one to estimate the primary cosmic ray fluxes. The estimated all-particle spectrum is higher and flatter than the one obtained from direct measurements but is consistent with EAS array measurements. The spectral indexes of the fitted energy spectrum are 2.56[Formula presented]0.05 for [Formula presented]500 TeV and 2.9[Formula presented]0.3 for [Formula presented]5000 TeV with a gradual change at intermediate energies. The average mass number shows little dependence on the primary energy below 1000 TeV, with a value of 10.1[Formula presented]2.5 at 100 TeV. At higher energies the best fit average mass shows a mild increase with energy, even though no definite conclusion can be reached taking into account errors. The fitted spectra cover a range from [Formula presented] 50 TeV up to several thousand TeV. © 1997 The American Physical Society.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Ambrosio, M; Antolini, R; Auriemma, G; Baker, R; Baldini, A; Barbarino, GC; Barish, BC; Battistoni, G; Bellotti, R; Bemporad, C; Bernardini, P; Bilokon, H; Bisi, V; Bloise, C; Bosio, T; Bower, C; Bussino, S; Cafagna, F; Calicchio, M; Campana, D; Carboni, M; Castellano, M; Cecchini, S; Cei, F; Chiarella, V; Corona, A; Coutu, S; De Cataldo, G; Dekhissi, H; De Marzo, C; De Mitri, I; De Vincenzi, M; Di Credico, A; Erriquez, O; Fantini, R; Favuzzi, C; Forti, C; Fusco, P; Giacomelli, G; Giannini, G; Giglietto, N; Goretti, M; Grassi, M; Grillo, A; Guarino, F; Guarnaccia, P; Gustavino, C; Habig, A; Hanson, K; Hawthorne, A; Heinz, R; Hong, JT; Iarocci, E; Katsavounidis, E; Kearns, E; Kyriazopoulou, S; Lamanna, E; Lane, C; Levin, DS; Lipari, P; Longley, NP; Longo, MJ; Mancarella, G; Mandrioli, G; Margiotta-Neri, A; Marini, A; Martello, D; Marzari-Chiesa, A; Mazziotta, MN; Michael, DG; Mikheyev, S; Miller, L; Monacelli, P; Montaruli, T; Monteno, M; Mufson, S; Musser, J; Nicoló, D; Nolty, R; Okada, C; Orth, C; Osteria, G; Palamara, O; Parlati, S; Patera, V; Patrizii, L; Pazzi, R; Peck, CW; Petrera, S; Pistilli, P; Popa, V; Rainó, A; Reynoldson, J; Ricciardi, M; Ronga, F; Rubizzo, U; Sanzgiri, A; Sartogo, F; Satriano, C; Satta, L

Published Date

  • January 1, 1997

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 56 / 3

Start / End Page

  • 1418 - 1436

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1550-2368

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1550-7998

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1103/PhysRevD.56.1418

Citation Source

  • Scopus