The charge ratio, $R_\mu = N_{\mu^+}/N_{\mu^-}$, for cosmogenic multiple-muon events observed at an under- ground depth of 2070 mwe has been measured using the magnetized MINOS Far Detector. The multiple-muon events, recorded nearly continuously from August 2003 until April 2012, comprise two independent data sets imaged with opposite magnetic field polarities, the comparison of which allows the systematic uncertainties of the measurement to be minimized. The multiple-muon charge ratio is determined to be $R_\mu = 1.104 \pm 0.006 {\rm \,(stat.)} ^{+0.009}_{-0.010} {\rm \,(syst.)} $. This measurement complements previous determinations of single-muon and multiple-muon charge ratios at underground sites and serves to constrain models of cosmic ray interactions at TeV energies.
Efficiency-corrected charge ratios as a function of measured muon multiplicity, $M$.
The energy loss spectrum of 150 GeV muons has been measured with a prototype of the ATLAS hadron calorimeter in the H8 beam of the CERN SPS. The differential probability dP/dv per radiation length of a fractional energy loss v = ΔEμ/Eμ has been measured in the range v = 0.01 ÷ 0.95; it is compared with the theoretical predictions for energy losses due to bremsstrahlung and production of electron—positron pairs or of energetic knock-on electrons. The integrated probability \(\int_{0.01}^{0.95}({\rm d}P/{\rm d}v){\rm d}v\) is (1.610 ± 0.015stat ± 0.105syst) · 10−3 in agreement with the theoretical predictions 1.556 · 10−3 and 1.619 · 10−3. Agreement with theory is also found in two intervals of v where production of electron-positron pairs and knock-on electrons dominates. In the region of bremsstrahlung dominance (v = 0.12 ÷ 0.95) the measured integrated probability (1.160 ± 0.040stat ± 0.075syst) · 10−4 is in agreement with the theoretical value of 1.185 · 10−4, obtained using the Petrukhin and Shestakov description of the bremsstrahlung process. The same result is about 3.6 standard deviations (defined as the quadratic sum of statistical and systematic errors) lower than the theoretical prediction of 1.472 · 10−4, obtained using Tsai’s description of bremsstrahlung.
Measured differential probability values DPROB/DNU for fractional energy loss. Only statistical errors are given.
Integrated probability (DELTA(PROB)) per radiation length.
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