A New Analysis of Cosmic Radiation Including the Hard Component

Abstract

A representation of all known data on cosmic-ray intensities in their dependence on geomagnetic latitude and on altitude, respectively, depth below sea level, has been obtained on the following assumptions: 1. A soft component consisting of electrons which follow the Bethe-Heitler theory up to the highest energies with a primary distribution $E^{-n}$ ($E=\mathrm{energy}$, $n$ between 3 and 2). 2. A hard component of different nature which in addition to normal ionization is absorbed by a discontinuous process leading also to the production of numerous secondaries with a cross section inversely proportional to $E$ for high energies. The primary distribution in energy is about the same form as for the soft component, and also the absolute numbers of hard and soft primaries are of the same order of magnitude. This picture is furthermore well compatible with the observed secondary and transition effects, especially the Rossi transition curves for showers, and their occurrence below thick layers of heavy material and underground.