CXLVII. The alpha-particle component of the cosmic radiation

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Abstract
In an investigation of the primary a-particle component of the cosmic radiation a nuclear emulsion technique has been employed. A value of 60 ± 17 g/cm2 was found for the collision mean free path of α-particles in emulsion. The justification for using this value to obtain values for the mean free paths in other media is discussed. A value of 320±36 αparticles per m2 per steradian per sec was found for the primary flux at a geomagnetic latitude of 55°N. This was in agreement with previous values. The energy distribution found was in agreement with that for the heavy primaries (Z>3) given by Dainton et al. (1952) and Gottstein (1954).