On the Production of Mesons by Primary Cosmic Rays

Abstract

The present ideas on the production of ir-mesons by the primary cosmic rays and of their decay into Ai-mesons lead to differences between the calculated and observed intensities, total energies of the components, and geomagnetic effects, which do not appear resolvable by any plausible adjustment. A consistent explanation of the several effects is found in the assumption of a further intermediate meson, which is identified with the r-meson of about 900 electron masses. A model which agrees with the available data and is not contradicted by the facts of direct observation, such as in photographic emulsions, consists in the following assumptions:(1) Production of r-mesons and T-mesons in a ratio of 5 to 1 by the primary nucleons with a multiplicity 2.7 po.5 (PinBev/c).(2) Decay of the T-mesons into 7r-mesons with a mean life of 10~1 0 sec.(3) Decay of the 7r-mesons into ju-mesons.