The muon component of extensive air showers

Abstract

TIL3 direct investigation of very high energy cosmic rays (D> 10 15 eV) by measurements at the top of the atmosphere is impracticable due to the low incident flux.Extensive air showers provide a practical but indirect method of detecting this radiation by measurements lower down in the atmosphere.Studies cf the muon component of shovers in which the primary particle has undergone many interactions can reveal features of the primary particle composition.