Energies of Cosmic-Ray Particles

Abstract

Cloud chamber photographs of cosmic-ray tracks in a magnetic field up to 17,000 gauss are shown. On the assumption that the particles producing the tracks are travelling downward through the chamber rather than upward, particles of positive charge appear as well as electrons. From the specific ionization along the track it is concluded that the positives are protons, and are not nuclei of charge greater than unity. No evidence is uncovered demanding the introduction of a neutron for cosmic-ray phenomena. Eight examples of associated tracks are shown. Energies range from below 10^6 electron-volts to values in a few cases of the order of 10^9 electron-volts. Energy values for 70 tracks are listed. The scattering of cosmic particles in traversing a 6.0 mm lead plate is measured.