The cosmic ray energy spectrum between 10 < sup> 14 and 10 < sup> 16 eV

Authors

M. A.K. Glasmacher, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
M. A. Catanese, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
M. C. Chantell, The Enrico Fermi Institute
C. E. Covault, The Enrico Fermi Institute
J. W. Cronin, The Enrico Fermi Institute
B. E. Fick, The Enrico Fermi Institute
L. F. Fortson, The Enrico Fermi Institute
J. W. Fowler, The Enrico Fermi Institute
K. D. Green, The Enrico Fermi Institute
D. B. Kieda, The University of Utah
J. Matthews, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
B. J. Newport, The Enrico Fermi Institute
D. F. Nitz, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
R. A. Ong, The Enrico Fermi Institute
S. Oser, The Enrico Fermi Institute
D. Sinclair, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
J. C. Van Der Velde, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1999

Abstract

The energy spectrum of cosmic rays with primary energies between 1014 eV and 1016 eV has been studied with the CASA-MIA air shower array. The measured differential energy spectrum is a power law (dj/dE ∝ E-γ) with spectral indices γ of 2.66 ± 0.02 below approximately 1015 eV and 3.00 ± 0.05 above. A new method is used for measuring primary energy derived from ground-based data in a compositionally insensitive way. In contrast with some previous reports, the "knee" of the energy spectrum does not appear sharp, but rather a smooth transition over energies from 1015 eV to 3.0 × 1015 eV. © 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.

Publication Title

Astroparticle Physics

Recommended Citation

Glasmacher, M., Catanese, M., Chantell, M., Covault, C., Cronin, J., Fick, B., Fortson, L., Fowler, J., Green, K., Kieda, D., Matthews, J., Newport, B., Nitz, D., Ong, R., Oser, S., Sinclair, D., & Van Der Velde, J. (1999). The cosmic ray energy spectrum between 10 < sup> 14 and 10 < sup> 16 eV. Astroparticle Physics, 10(4), 291-302. http://doi.org/10.1016/S0927-6505(98)00070-X
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/7623