Multiple Production of Mesons

Abstract

Cloud-chamber photographs and photographic emulsion events have been obtained which are interpreted in terms of multiple meson production. In some cases it can be shown by charge conservation and penetration of lead that a large number of the particles in hard showers are not nucleons or electrons. The results are compared with the predictions of Heisenberg and Leprince-Ringuet. By comparing the interactions in carbon and lead one is led to the conclusion that mesons are made at 55° geomagnetic latitude with an average multiplicity of about five by protons of average energy about 8 Bev.