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Measuring the chemical composition of cosmic rays at ∼ 1013–1015 eV by utilizing the solar and geomagnetic fields

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Abstract

According to a proposal of Lloyd-Evans (1985), the average charge of particles in the cosmic radiation near 1014eV can be determined by observing the effect of the solar magnetic field on the Sun's shadow in the angular distribution of energetic primary cosmic ray particles. This suggestion is shown to be realizable with a new type of EAS-array proposed for the purpose of high energy γ-ray astronomy. The same measurement provides information on the integrated strength of the solar magnetic field. As the array will be sensitive and provide good angular resolution down to a few times 1012eV, more detailed results on the primary composition near 1013eV can be obtained by investigating the shape of the shadow of the Moon as affected by the geomagnetic field.

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Heintze, J., Lennert, P., Polenz, S. et al. Measuring the chemical composition of cosmic rays at ∼ 1013–1015 eV by utilizing the solar and geomagnetic fields. Exp Astron 1, 21–34 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00414793

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00414793

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