Inelastic interaction cross sections for nuclear-active particles of energy 5 × 1010 to 1012 eV on carbon and iron nuclei

Abstract

Inelastic interactions of nuclear-active particles in carbon and iron have been studied using cloud chambers in a magnetic field and an ionization calorimeter at Tskhra-Tskharo Pass at an altitude of 2 500 m above sea level. The installation consists of two cloud chambers 2 × 1 × 0.4 m3 in a magnetic field of 7 000 oersteds and an ionization calorimeter of total thickness about 800 g/cm2. It is triggered when an energy greater than 5 × 1010 eV is released in the ionization calorimeter. The measurements in carbon and iron can be taken simultaneously. Results taken up to the present show that the mean free path for carbon is (96 ± 13) g/cm2 and for iron (130 ± 6) g/cm2.