Maximum Depth of Development of EASes with Energies above 1016 eV, Measured in Individual Events by Cherenkov Tracking Detectors

Abstract

The Cherenkov radiation of extensive air showers (EASes) is studied using a system of optical tracking detectors based on a camera obscura as part of the Yakutsk EAS complex. These detectors allow photons to be counted from a certain height in the atmosphere and thus reconstruction of longitudinal development of a shower. Good coincidence is observed between EAS cascade curve parameter X_max measured in this way and by modeling. Preliminary results on the cosmic ray mass composition are obtained for energies above 10¹⁶ eV.