Muons in extensive air showers of energies E 0=1016.6–1019.8 eV

Abstract

Data on muons with the threshold energy E μ≈1.0×secθ GeV in extensive air showers of energies E 0≥4×1016 eV measured on the Yakutsk and Akeno arrays are jointly analyzed. The results are compared with the calculations by the quark-gluon-string model with jets. It is shown that this model does not contradict the data measured for energies E 0≤1018 eV on both arrays under the assumption that the primary particle composition differs from the composition where heavy nuclei dominate over protons. Experimental data for energies E 0≥3×1018 eV indicate that the shower development differs from that predicted by the quark-gluon-string model with jets.