MASS COMPOSITION OF PRIMARY COSMIC-RAYS OVER 10(15) TO 10(18) EV - A CROSS ANALYSIS OF EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

Experimental results on lateral density distribution of Cherenkov ligh t from EAS, relative abundances of muon to Cherenkov component, and mu on to electron component over the energy range 10(15) to 10(18) eV are described. Angular distribution of lateral distribution shape paramet er and depth of shower maximum are also introduced to study the effect of zenith angle on the calculation of mass composition Cross analyses of different results on mass composition are at variance below 10(16) eV, above 10(16) eV results are in close agreement with one another. Primary results indicate a change of Cherenkov lateral density distrib ution not only due to mass and energy of primary particles, it is also well correlated with zenith angle of arrival direction of primary par ticles.