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At least 703 records · Page 39

Charge composition of galactic cosmic radiation

Experimental results from the balloon borne ionization spectrometer have enabled the extension of the measurement of the energy spectra of cosmic rays to 10 to the 12th power eV. The exposure factor for this flight was 1825 sq m/sr/sec and approximately 10,000 nuclei with Z greater than or equal to 3 have been observed. Differential spectra of individual nuclei from lithium to oxygen and from groups of nuclei with Z = 10-14, 15-19, 20-23, and 24-30 energy range 2 x 10 to the 10th eV to 10 to the 12th eV are described in a power law representation. Results indicate that the composition of galactic cosmic rays remains similar to that observed at lower energies. These results from direct measurements provide evidence for the processes of source acceleration with interstellar propagation remaining essentially energy independent up to 10 to the 12th power eV.

Ormes, J. F.↗

The stopping rate of negative cosmic-ray muons near sea level

A production rate of 0.065 + or - 0.003 Ar-37 atom/kg min of K-39 at 2-mwe depth below sea level was measured by sweeping argon from potassium solutions. This rate is unaffected by surrounding the solution by paraffin and is attributed to negative muon captures and the electromagnetic interaction of fast muons, and not to nucleonic cosmic ray component. The Ar-37 yield from K-39 by the stopping of negative muons in a muon beam of a synchrocyclotron was measured to be 8.5 + or - 1.7%. The stopping rate of negative cosmic ray muons at 2-mwe depth below sea level from these measurements and an estimated 17% electromagnetic production is 0.63 + or - 0.13 muon(-)/kg min. Previous measurements on the muon stopping rate vary by a factor of 5. Our value is slightly higher but is consistent with two previous high values. The sensitivity of the Ar-37 radiochemical method for the detection of muons is considerably higher than that of the previous radiochemical methods and could be used to measure the negative muon capture rates at greater depths.

Spannagel, G.↗

Galactic cosmic ray heavy primary secondary doses

Results of a calculation which estimates the heavy primary secondary doses from cosmic ray interaction data are reported. The incident galactic cosmic ray heavy primary spectrum is represented as the sum of helium, nitrogen, magnesium, and iron components. The incident iron nuclei are allowed to fragment into lesser Z secondaries, which are assumed to travel in the same direction and start with the same energy per nucleon as the interacting primary. The total emergent particle energy spectra and dose are then presented for the galactic heavy primary spectrum incident on aluminum and tissue slabs. The importance of the fragmentation parameters assumed is also evaluated. The total dose from the heavy primaries and their secondaries is found to be reduced by only a factor of two in 20 g/sq cm of shielding.

Wilkinson, M. C.↗

Direct stimulation of the retina by the method of virtual-quanta for heavy cosmic-ray nuclei

The contribution to the frequency of visual sensations induced in the dark-adapted eye by the virtual photon field was calculated, this field is associated with the heavy nuclei that exist in space beyond the geomagnetic field. In order to determine the probability that the virtual photon field induces a light flash, only the portion of the virtual photon spectrum that corresponds to the known frequency dependence of the sensitivity of human rods to visible light was utilized. The results can be expressed as a curve of the mean frequency of light flashes induced by the absorption of at least R virtual photons versus the threshold number R. The contribution to the light flash frequency from the virtual photon field of heavy cosmic ray nuclei is smaller than that from Cerenkov photons. The flux and energy spectra of galactic cosmic ray nuclei helium to iron were used.

Mcnulty, P. J.↗