XCV. The momentum and sign of fast cosmic ray particles

Abstract

In order to study the statistical estimation of momentum and sign of fast cosmic ray particles from their magnetically deflected and multiply scattered tracks in the photographic emulsion, the probability distribution of the observed angular deviations along the track is derived, taking into account errors of observations. With the help of this distribution, approximate expressions are obtained for the maximum likelihood estimates of the magnetic deviation and the mean-square scattering deviation. The standard errors of these estimates are found, and their efficiency is discussed.