An analysis of experimental results on fluctuations of muon and electron numbers in extensive air showers

Abstract

The theoretical results derived in the previous paper by de Beer et al. in 1968 have been compared with experimental observations, with reference to the fluctuations in the total numbers of muons and electrons and to the variation of the mean number of muons with shower size. It is found that the derivation of accurate parameters from experimental data is very difficult in view of the presence of a variety of bias effects. However, good agreement appears, in general, when comparison is made of the predictions of our preferred model (which assumes a CKP type of energy distribution for the secondary pions from high-energy interactions). The nature of the mass composition of the primaries is still unclear in view of the rather low sensitivity of most parameters to the mass spectrum. What evidence there is, from the (N_μ, N_e) relation, gives only a very slight indication of a change in the primary composition above 10¹⁵ eV.