Abstract
The authors describe a large set of measurements of the lateral distribution of Cerenkov light associated with cosmic ray extensive air showers with sea level sizes between 105 and 107 particles. It is shown that the shape of the lateral distribution is sensitive to air shower development and is in agreement with the results of recent calculations of Patterson and Hillas (1983). Shower depths of maximum are derived and a comprehensive simulation of the experimental selection biases is described. Interpretation of the data using an interaction model including a mild scaling violation and a ln2s extrapolation of cross sections leads to a conclusion consistent with a cosmic ray composition dominate by heavy primaries in the energy region 5*1015-2*1016 eV.
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