Observation of cosmic-ray particles with z50 and interpretation of the charge spectrum
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-1973
Abstract
Large areas of plastic detectors and nuclear emulsions were exposed to the primary cosmic radiation on two high-altitude ballon flights in May 1968 and September 1969. From measurements on the tracks found in the scanning of the plastic detectors, events with charges Z>50 were selected, and these data were consolidated with those from our earlier flights. Several conclusions can be drawn from the observed charge spectrum. The detection of trans-bismuth nuclei confirms earlier observations of these particles in the cosmic rays. However, no trans-uranium particles were observed. Detailed features of the charge spectrum cannot be explained by nuclei from r-process nucleosynthesis alone. Although the addition of particles following s-process abundances yields improved agreement, the spectrum appears more complicated than would result from a simple combination of r- and s-process abundances with identical propagation histories. © 1973 The American Physical Society.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Physical Review D
First Page
1722
Last Page
1729
Recommended Citation
Blanford, G., Friedlander, M., Klarmann, J., Walker, R., & Wefel, J. (1973). Observation of cosmic-ray particles with z50 and interpretation of the charge spectrum. Physical Review D, 8 (6), 1722-1729. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.8.1722