Comparison of the electron and muon data in extensive air showers with the expectations from a cosmic-ray composition and hadron interaction model

The cosmic-ray primary spectrum and composition are studied at E 0 > 10 14eV by means of the multicomponent Extensive Air Shower detector of the EAS-TOP experiment at the National Gran Sasso Laboratories. The measured muon lateral distribution function (E μ > 1 GeV) and the N e-N μ relation in the energy range around the knee of the primary energy spectrum (E 0 ≈ 3·10 15eV) are compared with the expectations of a simulation based on the Dual Parton Model (CORSIKA code) and a cosmic-ray composition model based on the extrapolations of the low-energy direct measurements. First data obtained for vertical showers show that both average values and fluctuations are well reproduced. The same interaction model together with mixed compositions, not requiring dramatic changes, fit the data also above the knee (up to E 0 ≈ 10 16eV).