Large seasonal variations and anomalous absorption curves of the high-ionization cosmic ray component obtained at the Doch-4M spectrometric scintillation telescope

Abstract

Cosmic ray absorption curves and seasonal variations were measured at the Doch-4M spectrometric scintillation telescope over its service period (2001–2008) in order to study the nature of the high-ionization cosmic ray component. Large seasonal variations (A ≈ 30%) in cosmic rays, practically independent of the zenith angle of the Doch-4M telescope axis inclination, were observed for the first time. The anomalous results obtained both for the seasonal variations and for the absorption range of the high-ionization cosmic ray component in various materials of lead and polyethylene, which are in conflict with the absorption of the hadron cosmic ray component, were explained within the erzion model.