Multiple interactions of muons in BUST

Analysis of the experimental data for a long period of Baksan underground scintillation telescope (BUST) operation to search for very-high-energy muons is presented. The phenomenological parameters and the sensitivity of the method of multiple interactions, based on the concepts of the pair-meter technique, are discussed. The experimental distributions are compared with the results of calculations for a “conventional” muon spectrum, based on 3D simulation of muon passage through the telescope.     

Temperature variations in the flux of high-energy muons

The flux of high-energy muons (threshold energy, 220 GeV) as a function of atmospheric temperature is measured using data from the Baksan Underground Scintillation Telescope (BUST). The temperature was measured every 12 h by radiosonde at different levels of observations. The results from studying the correlation coefficient between the counting rate of muons and the temperature of the atmosphere at different altitudes are presented.     

Investigation of the spectrum of high-energy muons by the method of multiple interactions on the basis of data from the Baksan underground scintillation telescope

Experimental data obtained with the aid of the Baksan underground scintillation telescope over a long period of its operation are analyzed with the aim of searches for an excess flux of ultrahigh-energy (≥100 TeV)muons. The multiple-interaction method, which is based on the ideas of the pair-meter technique, is used to analyze the energy spectrum of the muons. The phenomenological parameters of this method and its sensitivity to the shape of the spectrum are discussed. The experimental distributions are compared with the results of calculations for various versions of the muon spectrum. The possibility of separating ultrahigh-energy muons that fly in the vicinity of the axis of extensive air showers is assessed on the basis of the integrated number of recorded and simulated events featuring large energy depositions.     

Production of high-energy muons in gamma showers

We have calculated the number of high-energy muons in gamma showers generated by photoproduction and by muon pair creation. The prompt muons have flatter energy spectrum than the muons, which come from photoproduction and contribute significant fraction of the total muon rates for E_μ ? 1 TeV. The total rate of high-energy muons in gamma showers is, however, very low.     

The possibility of searching for new physics in cosmic rays

One possible explanation of cosmic-ray energy spectrum behavior around the knee (3–5 PeV) by means of production of new heavy particles or a new state of matter is considered. It is shown that, in this case, a large excess of muons and neutrinos with energies of >100 TeV must be generated. The existing VHE muon experimental data are analyzed. Possible experiments on VHE muon investigations are discussed.     

Muon Content of Extensive Air Showers: Comparison of the Energy Spectra Obtained by the Sydney University Giant Air-Shower Recorder and by the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Sydney University Giant Air-shower Recorder(SUGAR) measured the energy spectrum of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays reconstructed from muon detector reading. Comparison of their spectra SUGAR and Pierre Auger Observatory allows us to reconstruct the empirical dependence of the number of muons in a vertical shower on the primary energy for energies between 1017 and 1018 eV. We compared this dependence with the predictions of hadronic interaction models QGSJET-II-04, EPOS-LHC and SIBYLL-2.3c. In addition, we analyzed the response of the array of muon detectors in order to determine the slope of the muon lateral distribution function. It is important to understand how much the number of muons differs from the predictions of modeling at different distances from the shower axis.     

Expected Spectra of Muon-Induced Cascades in IceCube

The neutrino telescope IceCube is capable to reconstruct the energy spectrum of muons in very high energy region by means of measurements of muon-induced cascades. To compare with experimental data, the expected spectra of cascades were theoretically estimated. Calculations were performed for two variants of muon spectrum on the ice surface: a simple power-law energy spectrum with a differential slope index −3.7, and a composite spectrum combined of two power spectra with differential indexes −3.7 and −2.7. The differential spectra of cascades for different zenith angles and integral cascade spectra calculated for two variants of muon spectra are discussed.     

On knock-on electrons of cosmic-ray muons in condensed matter (at 12° N)

The dependence of knock-on electron probability on the momenta of muons producing the knock-on electrons in condensed matter has been investigated by using a counter controlled cloud chamber. A search has also been made on the nature of the energy spectrum of the knock-on electrons from muons in the momentum region (0.80±0.05) to (1.70±0.05) Bev/c. It appears from the results of the measurements that there is a very weak dependence of knock-on electron probability on the primary muon momentum in the investigated muon spectral region (i.e. (0.80±0.05) to (1.70±0.05) Bev/c). The angular distributions and hence the energy spectra of the emergent electrons are found to be independent of muon momentum.     

The extensive air shower muon number spectrum beyond the knee in the cosmic-ray energy spectrum

The extensive air shower (EAS) muon number spectrum is obtained with increased statistics using the central muon detector of the EAS MSU array, which records muons with energies above 10 GeV. The dependence of the mass composition of primary cosmic rays on the energy is considered. The conclusion is confirmed that for energies from 3 × 10¹⁵ eV (the primary energy spectrum knee) up to 10¹⁷ eV a change in the composition associated with an increase in the proportion of heavy nuclei occurs; however, after the energy of 10¹⁷ eV, the proportion of heavy nuclei begins to decrease and the composition becomes lighter. A comparison with similar data from other experiments is conducted. The existence of an additional component of cosmic rays is confirmed; earlier an indication of its presence was derived from data on the EAS electron number spectrum.     

Cosmic ray sea level muon spectrum at large zenith angle derived from the latest JACEE primary spectrum

The sea level cosmic ray muon spectrum at 89° has been estimated from the primary nucleon spectrum estimated after the latest JACEE measurements. The p-A collision cross section has been considered for hadronic energy moments calculations. The meson atmospheric diffusion equations after Bugaev et al. have been used in this analysis. The calculated large zenith angle muon spectrum is well in accord with the latest MUTRON data for cosmic ray muons arriving at zenith angles 86° to 90°.On leave from Indian Association for the cultivation of Science, Calcutta 700032, India.     

Frictional accumulation of negative muons and its application

A novel method is proposed for the efficient conversion of intermediate energy negative muons into a low-energy muon beam. It is based on using an electric field to eject muons from a moderator consisting of a large number of thin carbon foils placed perpendicularly to the axis of a high-field solenoid. High-energy muons are made to slow down within the moderator to an energy where further slowing down is inhibited by the electric field acceleration between the foils. The muons accumulate at low energy within the moderator hopping from one foil to the next until they come out as a low-energy muon beam. The resulting phase compression factor exceeds 1000. Efficient initial injection of the muons into the moderator is obtained either by letting the muons enter it in a direction opposite to the acceleration force or by producing the muons within a magnetic trap containing the moderator. A practical configuration based on the second scheme is presented. By implementing the method into the most intense muon production configurations a new pathway is opened that may ultimately compete with other schemes in the selection of the optimal source for high-energy muon colliders.     

Derivation of muon spectrum at high energies from the recent JACEE primary cosmic-ray spectrum using Fermilab data on meson production

Summary The energy spectrum of sea level muons in the range (10²÷10⁴) GeV has been calculated from the latest directly measured JACEE primary spectrum using Fermilab results on pp→π^± X and pp→K^± X inclusive reactions. The conventional pion atmospheric diffusion equation after Bugaevet al. has been used in this analysis to account the flux of muons emerged from the multiple generation of mesons in air. The derived muon spectrum has been compared with the earlier magnetic spectrograph data of Durham and Kiel groups. The latest BAKSAN scintillator telescope data is well in agreement with the calculated integral spectrum originated from the meson decays in the range (1÷10⁴) GeV.     

Reconstruction of cosmic and beam-halo muons with the CMS detector

The powerful muon and tracker systems of the CMS detector together with dedicated reconstruction software allow precise and efficient measurement of muon tracks originating from proton-proton collisions. The standard muon reconstruction algorithms, however, are inadequate to deal with muons that do not originate from collisions. This note discusses the design, implementation, and performance results of a dedicated cosmic muon track reconstruction algorithm, which features pattern recognition optimized for muons that are not coming from the interaction point, i.e., cosmic muons and beam-halo muons. To evaluate the performance of the new algorithm, data taken during Cosmic Challenge phases I and II were studied and compared with simulated cosmic data. In addition, a variety of more general topologies of cosmic muons and beam-halo muons were studied using simulated data to demonstrate some key features of the new algorithm.     

Positive muon behavior in KCl with and without F centers

Positive muon behavior in KCl containing F centers has been studied. The muon spin depolarization rate showed a maximum near 120 K, which was not found in pure KCl. This is probably due to the fact that free positive muons are trapped by F centers in KCl. However, the binding energy between a positive muon and an F center is not large, so that muons detrap again above 150 K.     

Negative muon capture in very light atoms

The transition rates for unbound muons to be captured into atomic bound states are calculated as functions of (1) incident muon center-of-mass energy, (2) muon principal quantum number n, and (3) muon (final) angular momentum l, for the hydrogen, helium, and lithium atoms. These rates reflect differences in electron binding energies. At muon energies of several hundred electron volts, lithium K-shell electrons are more likely to be ejected than the L-shell electron, while this behavior is reversed for energies ? 10 eV. However, in each case when the capture rate is folded with a muon stopping power function, the result is that more than half of the unbound muons are absorbed above 75 eV. Implications for experiments which look at muon transfer processes are noted.     

Investigating the influence of a Forbush decrease on the detected flux of high-energy muons

The effect of Forbush decreases was studied for a flux of high-energy muons with a threshold of 220 GeV detected by the Baksan Underground Scintillation Telescope (BUST) of the Institute for Nuclear Research, Russian Academy of Sciences.     

Cosmic ray studies with the L3-cosmics program at CERN

The L3 detector at the CERN electron-positron collider had a muon spectrometer which was employed during the last years of LEP operation for cosmic ray studies. The results of this program include a precise muon spectrum and charge ratio between 20 GeV and 3 TeV, a limit on TeV primary antiprotons from a study of the Moon’s shadow, the (possible) observation of a are signal from a fixed position in the northern hemisphere through muons, a solar anisotropy of 200 GeV protons, and other results. Negative limits on muons associated with known H.E. gamma sources or gamma bursts, the search for anomalous H.E. interaction or decay events such as reported from the Kolar Gold Fields, and a search for muons correlated with a solar are are also noted.     

Transverse field μ+SR study of V3Si

We have studied by transverse field positive muon spectroscopy μ+SR, the muon diffusion in V₃Si. We found that the muon is static and localized at tetrahedral interstitial sites below 200 K. Above 200 K the muons diffuse with an activiation energy 2550 (220) K. The nature of this diffusion process is discussed.     

Results of measurements of the atmospheric muon flux in the zenith angle range of 85°–95°

The results of the study of the near-horizontal muon flux in the zenith angle range of 85–95 degrees are presented. In particular, the so-called albedo muons (atmospheric muons backscattered in the ground to the upper hemisphere are recorded in this range. The data of measurement series performed at the NEVOD-DECOR experimental complex are analyzed for 30 thousand of “live” time hours. Multiple Coulomb scattering of muons in the ground is simulated by theMonte-Carlo method using various models. The measured muon flux intensity is compared with the simulation results.     

Single and multiple muons and the generation of neutrons in the LVD experiment

The large geometric factor and good spatial resolution of the Large Volume Detector (LVD) ensures statistically significant and highly accurate measurements of muon trajectories and determination of the multiplicity of muon groups. The developed algorithm allows us to reconstruct 2 × 10⁶ muon events (single muons and muon groups). Characteristics of muon groups are obtained and the specific yield of neutrons produced by single muons, muon groups, and showers is determined.