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Cosmic-ray propagation in the atmosphere

Распространение космических лучей в атмосфере

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Il Nuovo Cimento A (1965-1970)

Summary

An essentially analytical theory of atmospheric cosmic-ray propagation is developed on the basis of a phenomenological model of hadron-nucleus collisions. This model correctly predicts the sea-level cosmic-ray nucleon, pion and muon spectra, the cosmic-ray ionization profile in the atmosphere, and neutron flux and density profiles in the atmosphere. It is concluded that the large-scale properties of atmospheric cosmic rays can be accurately predicted on the basis of a purely nucleonic cascade as a result of which all secondaries are mediated by pion production. Implications for energy independence of cross-sections, the recent 70 GeV results from Serpukhov, and nucleonic relaxation rates in the atmosphere are discussed.

Riassunto

Si sviluppa una teoria essenzialmente analitica della propagazione atmosferica dei raggi cosmici sulla base di un modello fenomenologico delle collisioni adrone-nucleo. Questo modello prevede correttamente gli spettri delle componenti muonica, pionica e nucleonica dei raggi cosmici al livello del mare, il profilo di ionizzazione dei raggi cosmici nell'atmosfera ed il flusso e i profili di densità dei neutroni nell'atmosfera. Si conclude che le proprietà a grande scala dei raggi cosmici possono essere previste accuratamente sulla base di una cascata puramente nucleonica in conseguenza della quale tutti i secondari hanno per intermediario la produzione di pioni. Si discutono le implicazioni per l'indipendenza dall'energia delle sezioni d'urto, i recenti risultati a 70 GeV ottenuti a Serpukhov ed i rapporti di rilassamento nucleonico nell'atmosfera.

Резюме

На основе феноменологической модели адрон-ядерных соудареиий развивается, по существу, аналитическая теория распространения космических лучей в атмосфере. Эта модель правильно предсказывает спектры космических нуклонов, пионов и мюонов на уровне моря, ионизационный профиль профиль космических лучей в атмосфере и профили потока и плотности нейтронов в атмосфере. Утверждается, что основные свойства космических лучей в атмосфере могут быть аккуратно предсказаны на основе чисто нуклонных каскадов, в результате которых все вторичные частицы являются промежуточным звеном для рождения пионов. Обсуждаются следствия этой модели для энергетической зависимости поперечных сечений, полученных недавно результатов при энергии 70 ГэВ в Серпухове, и для интенсивностей нуклонных релаксаций.

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  1. Health and Safety Laboratory, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, New York, N. Y.

    K. O'Brien

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O'Brien, K. Cosmic-ray propagation in the atmosphere. Nuov Cim A 3, 521–547 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02823324

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