Coherent Cosmic-Ray Model Based on "Direct" Muon Production

Abstract

We consider a cosmic-ray muon model in which a "directly produced" muon component with the same slope as the primary spectrum is added to the conventional pion-derived muons. It is found to be consistent with recent burst measurements, horizontal-air-shower data, atmospheric gamma-ray fluxes, and muon spectrograph measurements. It may also explain the anomalous mu-less air showers. The model requires that the photonuclear cross section increase at very high energies.