The energy spectrum of primary cosmic rays measured with the KASCADE-Grande experiment [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Dirk Kickelbick

The energy spectrum ofprimary cosmic rays measuredwith the KASCADE-GrandeexperimentDISSERTATIONzurErlangungdesakademischenGrades einesDoktorsderNaturwissenschaften,vorgelegtvonDiplom-Physiker Dirk Kickelbickgeborenam18.Juni1974inStollberggenehmigtvomFachbereich Physik¨derUniversitatSiegen.SiegenJuni2008GutachterderDissertation: Univ.-Prof.Dr.P.BuchholzUniv.-Prof.Dr.C.GrupenDatumderDisputation: 11.Juli2008gedrucktaufalterungsbesta¨ndigemholz-undsa¨urefreiem PapierAbstractThe measurement of the energy spectrum of cosmic rays is an important tool to re-veal the nature of cosmic rays. In order to measure the cosmic rays up to an energy of1810 eV,the KASCADEexperimentwasextendedto KASCADE-Grande. Itisagroundbased detector to measure extensive air showers, which are initiated by the primaryparticles of the cosmic radiation. In order to obtain the energy spectrum, data fromDecember 2003 to September 2007 are analyzed by using the method of constant in-tensity. Thismethodisapplied tothenumberofcharged particles inanairshowerandleadstoazenithangleindependent numberofcharged particles, whichisameasureoftheshowersize. Simulationsofairshowersarethenusedtocalibratetheshowersizeto16the primary energy. Thus, the primary energy spectrum inthe energy range of10 eV18 16 17to 10 eV is determined. In the energy region from 10 eV to 10 eV the resultingspectrum andthespectrummeasuredwith KASCADEoverlap. Bothmeasurementsarein good agreement in this energy range.