High-energy galactic cosmic-ray composition measured in Gemini XI

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Abstract
An oriented nuclear-emulsion detector capable of time resolution was exposed in Gemini Flight XI to investigate the primary cosmic-ray nuclei above the earth's atmosphere. This was the first satellite exposure of an emulsion apparatus designed to collect 103 high-quality tracks of heavy nuclei under a negligible thickness of matter (0.07 g/cm2). Time resolution was obtained by moving a lower stack, consisting of emulsions of various sensitivities, with respect to a shallower, sensitive upper stack at the rate of 25 microns/minute. It was thus possible to separate the "useful" tracks–formed during the oriented portion of the flight–from those formed at other times. Preliminary data are presented on the relative abundances of individual chemical elements in the high-energy cosmic radiation above the earth's atmosphere. These measurements are compared to published results obtained on balloon flights at similar latitudes. When sufficient data become available in a later phase of this experiment, particular attention will be directed towards the Be and B abundances, the N and F content relative to C and O, and the relative number of iron-group nuclei compared to the lighter ones.

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