Validating models of albedo muon flux formation on the Earth’s surface

Abstract

The results from investigating the near-horizontal flux of cosmic ray muons are presented. In this range, so-called albedo muons (atmospheric muons that have penetrated into the ground and scattered into the upper hemisphere) are detected. Albedo muons are one of the main sources of the background in neutrino experiments. Data from a series of measurements performed at the NEVOD experimental complex over 30000 hours of operation are analyzed. The expected muon flux is simulated using the Monte Carlo method, based on two models of multiple Coulomb scattering of muons in the ground: one with point-like nuclei and one with nuclei of finite size. The results from measuring muon intensity in the 85°–95° range of zenith angles are compared to those from simulations.