Estimation of the energy of the electron-photon component of cosmic rays on the basis of data for Cherenkov light from ultrahigh-energy extensive air showers

Abstract

The energy fraction E em/E 0 dissipated to the electron-photon component of extensive air showers (EASs) for E 0=1015−1019 eV is estimated using data on Cherenkov radiation and charged particles from the Yakutsk EAS array. The results are compared with models with different dissipations to the electron-photon component and with calculations for various primary nuclei. In the energy range 1015−1016 eV and 1018−1019 eV, the ratio E em/E 0 is equal to 77 ± 2 and 88 ± 2, respectively, in agreement with the mixed and proton contents of primary cosmic rays in the former and latter energy ranges, respectively.