Primary Cosmic-Ray Alpha Particles and Protons atN
- 15 January 1956
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Physical Society (APS) in Physical Review B
- Vol. 101 (2), 800-806
- https://doi.org/10.1103/physrev.101.800
Abstract
The intensities of the primary cosmic-ray alpha particles and protons at geomagnetic latitude 55°N are determined from measurements of the ionization and range of the charged cosmic-ray particles observed at atmospheric depths of 8 g/ and deeper. The measurements were made with a balloon-borne Geigerproportional counter telescope which contained absorbers of mercury or lead. Showers of particles in the telescope were detected by out of line counters and eliminated. The particles having residual ranges between 1.5 g/ and 43 g/ are shown to be secondary electrons and secondary protons. The penetrating particles having range greater than 43 g/ divide into singly and doubly charged particles. Extension of the penetrating particle intensity curves to zero depth yields values for the primary intensities of 0.19 for protons and 0.032 for alpha particles. The alpha particles are absorbed exponentially in the atmosphere and the slope of the absorption curve yields the value 35±7 g/ for their mean free path in air. Data obtained by removing the absorbers in flight indicate that the net results are free of shower effects. Other systematic uncertainties in the values of the primary intensities are estimated to be ±10%, which is larger than the statistical uncertainties.
Keywords
This publication has 9 references indexed in Scilit:
- CXLVII. The alpha-particle component of the cosmic radiationJournal of Computers in Education, 1954
- Rocket Determination of the Ionization Spectrum of Charged Cosmic Rays at°NPhysical Review B, 1952
- The Hard Component of Cosmic Rays in the Upper AtmospherePhysical Review B, 1952
- CXXIV. Nuclear transmutations produced by cosmic-ray particles of great energy.—Part VI. Experimental results on meson productionJournal of Computers in Education, 1951
- A Scintillation Counter Measurement of Heavy NucleiPhysical Review B, 1951
- XVII. Emission of energetic helium and lithium fragments in nuclear explosionsJournal of Computers in Education, 1951
- The Calibration of Proportional Counters with X-rays Produced by Radioactive SourcesProceedings of the Physical Society. Section A, 1950
- Low Energy Mesons in the AtmospherePhysical Review B, 1950
- The Heavy Nuclei of the Primary Cosmic RadiationPhysical Review B, 1950