A Comparison of Cosmic Ray Composition Measurements at the Highest Energies

Abstract

In recent years the Fly's Eye and Akeno groups have presented analyses of the cosmic ray mass composition at energies above 10^17 eV. While the analysis of the Fly's Eye group points to a likely change in mass composition from heavy to light at energies above 10^18 eV, the Akeno analysis favours an unchanging composition. However, the two groups base their conclusions on simulations using quite different hadronic models. Here we present a comparison of the experiments using the same hadronic model and find that the agreement between the experiments is much improved. Under this model, both experiments measure a composition rich in iron around 10^17 eV which becomes lighter at higher energies. However, the agreement is not complete, which indicates scope for improvement of the interaction model, or perhaps the need for a re-examination of the experimental results.

arXiv comment15 pages, uses epsfig.sty with 6 figures. Submitted to Astroparticle Physics, 25th January 1998. This is a revised version (21st May 1998) which addresses some referee comments, and which clarifies discussions of our results

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