Altitude Dependence of the Longitudinal Distribution of Atmospheric Čerenkov Radiation

Abstract

The longitudinal distribution of the \ifmmode \check{C}\else \v{C}\fi{}erenkov radiation generated by the electron component of extensive cosmic ray air showers interacting with the earth's atmosphere was measured at -46 m and 3801 m elevation. Although the two distributions are similar, a somewhat larger number of showers with small \ifmmode \check{C}\else \v{C}\fi{}erenkov radiation thickness at 3801 m suggests that those showers contain substantial light contributions from elevations where electron scattering is small.