Depth of the Maximum of Extensive Air Showers and Mass Composition of Primary Cosmic Radiation at an Energy of 4 x 10~(17) eV According to Data on Radioemission from Extensive Air Showers

摘要

The results of a reanalysis of experimental data on extensive-air-shower radioemission that were obtained previously at the Moscow State University array for studying extensive air showers are presented. The lateral distribution of radioemission is given for showers characterized by a primary energy of 4 x 10~(17) eV and a zenith angle of θ= 35°. On the basis of an analysis of a lateral distribution of radioemission, the average value of the shower-maximum depth at a primary energy of 4 x 10~(17) eV is estimated at X_(max) = 655 + 13 g/cm~2. Estimates of the mass content of primary radiation that were obtained from an analysis of the distribution of X_(max) are compatible with the hypothesis that the role of light nuclei becomes more pronounced at energies above 10~(17)eV.