Study of the Charge Spectrum of Extremely Heavy Cosmic Rays Using Combined Plastic Detectors and Nuclear Emulsions

P. B. Price; P. H. Fowler; J. M. Kidd; E. J. Kobetich; R. L. Fleischer; G. E. Nichols

doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.3.815

Access by Xinjiang University

Study of the Charge Spectrum of Extremely Heavy Cosmic Rays Using Combined Plastic Detectors and Nuclear Emulsions

P. B. Price

P. H. Fowler, J. M. Kidd, and E. J. Kobetich^*

R. L. Fleischer and G. E. Nichols

Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720

University of Bristol, Bristol, England

General Electric Research and Development Center, Schenectady, New York 12301

^*Present address: Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, Calif. 94720.

PDF

Phys. Rev. D 3, 815 – Published 15 February, 1971

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.3.815

Abstract

Tracks of 99 nuclei with $Z > 36$ have been analyzed in a stack of Lexan polycarbonate, cellulose triacetate, and nuclear emulsion launched from Palestine, Texas, with an area-time factor of 900 $m^{2}$ h. Although the mean deviation in charge assignment between plastics and emulsion was ∼3 units, there was no systematic variation. One nucleus with charge estimated to be $Z \approx 96$ ( $β \approx 0.95$ ) was identified in all three detectors. Combining all available data, 33 events have been found with $Z > 70$ , giving for the important ratio $\frac{(Z > 83)}{(70 ≦ Z ≦ 83)}$ the value ∼0.3. The weakness of the Pb peak relative to the Pt peak indicates that little radioactive decay of the transbismuth nuclei has occurred. These results favor supernova explosions within the galaxy as the major source of cosmic rays and suggest that their average lifetime is less than $10^{7}$ yr.

References (17)

P. H. Fowler, R. A. Adams, V. G. Cowen, and J. M. Kidd, Proc. Roy. Soc. (London) A301, 39 (1967)
G. E. Blanford, M. W. Friedlander, J. Klarmann, R. M. Walker, J. P. Wefel, W. C. Wells, R. L. Fleischer, G. E. Nichols, and P. B. Price, Phys. Rev. Letters 23, 338 (1969)
P. B. Price, R. L. Fleischer, and G. E. Nichols, Acta Phys. Acad. Sci. Hung. 29, Suppl. 1, 411 (1970)
P. H. Fowler, J. M. Kidd, and R. T. Moses, Acta Phys. Acad. Sci. Hung. 29, Suppl. 1, 399 (1970)
G. E. Blanford, M. W. Friedlander, J. Klarmann, R. M. Walker, J. P. Wefel, and W. C. Wells, Acta Phys. Acad. Sci. Hung. 29, Suppl. 1, 393 (1970)
P. H. Fowler, J. M. Kidd, and R. T. Moses, Proc. Roy. Soc. (London) 318A, 1 (1970)
G. E. Blanford, M. W. Friedlander, J. Klarmann, R. M. Walker, J. P. Wefel, W. C. Wells, P. H. Fowler, J. M. Kidd, and R. T. Moses (unpublished)
D. O'Sullivan, P. B. Price, E. K. Shirk, P. H. Fowler, J. M. Kidd, E. J. Kobetich, and R. Thorne, Phys. Rev. Letters (to be published)
P. B. Price, R. L. Fleischer, D. D. Peterson, C. O'Ceallaigh, D. O'Sullivan, and A. Thompson, Phys. Rev. 164, 1618 (1967) Phys. Rev. Letters 21, 630 (1968) Can. J. Phys. 46, S1149 (1968)
P. B. Price, R. L. Fleischer, D. D. Peterson, C. O'Ceallaigh, D. O'Sullivan, and A. Thompson, Acta Phys. Acad. Sci. Hung. 29, Suppl. 1, 417 (1970)
P. B. Price and R. L. Fleischer, Radiation Effects 2, 291 (1970)
J. Blok, J. S. Humphrey, and G. E. Nichols, Rev. Sci. Instr. 40, 509 (1969)
T. E. Pierce and M. Blann, University of Rochester Report No. 3591-8, 1968 (unpublished)
R. M. Sternheimer, Phys. Rev. 103, 511 (1956)
A. G. W. Cameron, in Origin and Distribution of the Elements, edited by L. H. Ahrens (Pergamon, New York, 1968), p. 125
P. A. Seeger, W. A. Fowler, and D. D. Clayton, Astrophys. J. Suppl. 97, 121 (1965)
D. D. Peterson, Rev. Sci. Instr. 41, 1254 (1970)

[c1] P. H. Fowler, R. A. Adams, V. G. Cowen, and J. M. Kidd, Proc. Roy. Soc. (London) A301, 39 (1967)

[c2] G. E. Blanford, M. W. Friedlander, J. Klarmann, R. M. Walker, J. P. Wefel, W. C. Wells, R. L. Fleischer, G. E. Nichols, and P. B. Price, Phys. Rev. Letters 23, 338 (1969)

[c3] P. B. Price, R. L. Fleischer, and G. E. Nichols, Acta Phys. Acad. Sci. Hung. 29, Suppl. 1, 411 (1970)

[c4] P. H. Fowler, J. M. Kidd, and R. T. Moses, Acta Phys. Acad. Sci. Hung. 29, Suppl. 1, 399 (1970)

[c5] G. E. Blanford, M. W. Friedlander, J. Klarmann, R. M. Walker, J. P. Wefel, and W. C. Wells, Acta Phys. Acad. Sci. Hung. 29, Suppl. 1, 393 (1970)

[c6] P. H. Fowler, J. M. Kidd, and R. T. Moses, Proc. Roy. Soc. (London) 318A, 1 (1970)

[c7] G. E. Blanford, M. W. Friedlander, J. Klarmann, R. M. Walker, J. P. Wefel, W. C. Wells, P. H. Fowler, J. M. Kidd, and R. T. Moses (unpublished)

[c8] D. O'Sullivan, P. B. Price, E. K. Shirk, P. H. Fowler, J. M. Kidd, E. J. Kobetich, and R. Thorne, Phys. Rev. Letters (to be published)

[c9] P. B. Price, R. L. Fleischer, D. D. Peterson, C. O'Ceallaigh, D. O'Sullivan, and A. Thompson, Phys. Rev. 164, 1618 (1967) Phys. Rev. Letters 21, 630 (1968) Can. J. Phys. 46, S1149 (1968)

[c10] P. B. Price, R. L. Fleischer, D. D. Peterson, C. O'Ceallaigh, D. O'Sullivan, and A. Thompson, Acta Phys. Acad. Sci. Hung. 29, Suppl. 1, 417 (1970)

[c11] P. B. Price and R. L. Fleischer, Radiation Effects 2, 291 (1970)

[c12] J. Blok, J. S. Humphrey, and G. E. Nichols, Rev. Sci. Instr. 40, 509 (1969)

[c13] T. E. Pierce and M. Blann, University of Rochester Report No. 3591-8, 1968 (unpublished)

[c14] R. M. Sternheimer, Phys. Rev. 103, 511 (1956)

[c15] A. G. W. Cameron, in Origin and Distribution of the Elements, edited by L. H. Ahrens (Pergamon, New York, 1968), p. 125

[c16] P. A. Seeger, W. A. Fowler, and D. D. Clayton, Astrophys. J. Suppl. 97, 121 (1965)

[c17] D. D. Peterson, Rev. Sci. Instr. 41, 1254 (1970)

Physical Review D

Export citation

Export citation

Study of the Charge Spectrum of Extremely Heavy Cosmic Rays Using Combined Plastic Detectors and Nuclear Emulsions

Abstract

References (17)

Outline

Information

Filter

Filter

Article Lookup

Enter a citation