Observation of Cosmic-Ray Particles with Z>=50 and Interpretation of the Charge Spectrum
Abstract
Large areas of plastic detectors and nuclear emulsions were exposed to the primary cosmic radiation on two high-altitude ballon flights in May 1968 and September 1969. From measurements on the tracks found in the scanning of the plastic detectors, events with charges Z>50 were selected, and these data were consolidated with those from our earlier flights. Several conclusions can be drawn from the observed charge spectrum. The detection of trans-bismuth nuclei confirms earlier observations of these particles in the cosmic rays. However, no trans-uranium particles were observed. Detailed features of the charge spectrum cannot be explained by nuclei from r-process nucleosynthesis alone. Although the addition of particles following s-process abundances yields improved agreement, the spectrum appears more complicated than would result from a simple combination of r- and s-process abundances with identical propagation histories.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review D
- Pub Date:
- September 1973
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.8.1722
- Bibcode:
- 1973PhRvD...8.1722B