Lateral Distribution Functions of Signals in Surface Scintillation Detectors of the Yakutsk Array, New Energy Estimates of Extensive Air Showers and the Energy Spectrum of the Primary Cosmic Radiation at Energies ∼1017–1019 eV

Abstract

Fluctuations of lateral distributions of signals in the surface scintillation detectors of the Yakutsk array are found to be large. New estimates of the inclined shower energy had been suggested. In view of these estimates the Yakutsk energy spectrum becomes quite comparable with the spectra observed at the Pierre Auger Observatory and the Telescope Array. The shower energy calculated using the data of only one detector may be overestimated if fluctuations are neglected.