Mesotron Studies with Dual Telescope

A description of a large area dual telescope for mesotron studies is given. Continual check on operation is obtained by constant ratio of counts of upper to lower telescope within the natural statistical fluctuations. Correlations have been made between mesotron intensity and mass temperature of various fractions up to 0.2 of the daily atmosphere; air data being obtained by sounding balloon flights at Lakehurst, New Jersey. Thus, temperature coefficients from 0.37 to 0.46±0.03 percent per degree Centigrade were obtained. It is shown that the temperature coefficient varies as $\frac{\mathrm{dz}}{\mathrm{dT}}$ when increasing fractions are taken, as expected. Correlations have also been made for the same mesotron intensities with change of height of two levels of the daily atmosphere. The assumption that mesotrons are produced throughout the atmosphere according to the distribution of the air mass leads to a mean rest lifetime rather smaller than that obtained by other methods.