Energetic cosmic rays observed by the resonant gravitational wave detectorNAUTILUS

Cosmic-ray showers interacting with the resonant mass gravitational wave an tenna NAUTILUS have been detected. The experimental results show large sign als at a rate much greater than expected. The largest signal corresponds to an energy release in NAUTILUS of 87 TeV. We note that a resonant mass grav itational wave detector used as particle detector has characteristics diffe rent from the usual particle detectors, and it could detect new features of cosmic rays. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.