The energy spectrum of cosmic ray electron between 9 and 300 GeV.
Abstract
The high-energy cosmic-ray electron spectrum between 9 and 300 GeV has been measured using an instrument consisting of a combination of a transition-radiation detector and a shower detector. The instrument has been calibrated at accelerators over the energy range 5-300 GeV and has been exposed in a balloon flight for 9.3 sq m sr hr. The design of the instrument and the data analysis procedures are described. It is found that the electron spectrum is significantly steeper than the proton spectrum. If the spectrum is fitted to a single power law, a spectral index of 3.35 is obtained. This suggests the influence of radiative energy losses on galactic electrons at low energies. The results are interpreted in the context of the homogeneous model for galactic cosmic rays.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- January 1979
- DOI:
- 10.1086/156778
- Bibcode:
- 1979ApJ...227..676P
- Keywords:
-
- Abundance;
- Cosmic Ray Showers;
- Energy Spectra;
- High Energy Electrons;
- Balloon Flight;
- Electron Energy;
- Electron Transitions;
- Energy Dissipation;
- Radiative Transfer;
- Space Radiation;
- Cosmic Rays:Electrons;
- Cosmic Rays:Energy Spectra