On knock-on electrons of cosmic-ray muons in condensed matter (at 12° N)

Abstract

The dependence of knock-on electron probability on the momenta of muons producing the knock-on electrons in condensed matter has been investigated by using a counter controlled cloud chamber. A search has also been made on the nature of the energy spectrum of the knock-on electrons from muons in the momentum region (0.80±0.05) to (1.70±0.05) Bev/c. It appears from the results of the measurements that there is a very weak dependence of knock-on electron probability on the primary muon momentum in the investigated muon spectral region (i.e. (0.80±0.05) to (1.70±0.05) Bev/c). The angular distributions and hence the energy spectra of the emergent electrons are found to be independent of muon momentum.