Study of longitudinal development of air showers in the knee energy range

Ground-based cosmic ray experiments detect mainly by measuring the longitudinal and lateral distribution of secondary particles produced in extensive air shower (EAS). The EAS knee energy region is simulated via CORSIKA software. Several simulation samples with different energy, composition zenith angles were carried out to understand development electron, muon Cherenkov light EAS. All results presented obtained assuming an observation plane at altitude 4400 m a.s.l. differences between electron studied, reconstruction uncertainty maximum for from was estimated be 10-15 g/cm2 nuclei above 1 PeV. performances measurement discrimination ability based on studied compared that distribution. It found number per depth its has smallest shower-to-shower fluctuations, but fluctuations density measured level very close it when appropriate angle employed. 50-55 proton, 20-25 iron, much better than variable development. hadronic model dependencies also discussed.