The electron energy spectrum in the flux of galactic cosmic rays

Abstract

The primary cosmic-ray electron flux between 3.5 and 80 BeV has been measured with a system composed of scintillation detectors separated by a lead absorber, and with careful discrimination against protons and multiply-charged nuclei. Observations are presented for two balloon flights made in the summer of 1966 at a latitude corresponding to a geomagnetic cutoff rigidity of about 2.5 GV. The results obtained are well represented by a power-law spectrum of the form:[Formula: see text]between 3.5 and 80 BeV. A comparison is made with the results of other investigators.