MUON CONTENT OF THE AIR SHOWERS - DISCRIMINATION METHOD BETWEEN ELECTROMAGNETIC AND HADRONIC CASCADES

Results from a detailed Monte Carlo simulation for the muon component of EAS, at mountain altitude (800 g cm(-2)), generated by vertical gam ma-rays, protons, oxygen and iron primary cosmic rays, in the energy r ange 10(12)-10(16) eV, are provided for muon threshold energies from 0 .1 to 100 GeV. In the simulation of the different components of the sh ower (mu+/-, e+/-, gamma, ...), the CORSIKA (COsmic Ray SImulator for KAscade) code has been used to allow for both, electromagnetic and had ronic interactions. Results on the variation and fluctuation of the to tal muon number with shower size and primary energy are obtained, as w ell as longitudinal developments, lateral distributions of low-energy muons in air showers and muon energy spectra. Moreover, analytical exp ressions are fitted to the muon lateral developments, and muon energy spectra have been parametrized to a log-normal distribution. Apart fro m their value as new results, they may be used for the design of curre nt studies at mountain altitudes. We also seek to provide relations to interpret the experimental data, for those who do not have detailed s imulation calculations available.