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arXiv · 1104.0894

Comparison of available measurements of the absolute air-fluorescence yield and determination of its global average value

J. Rosado·F. Blanco·F. Arqueros
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Abstract

Experimental results of the absolute air-fluorescence yield are given very often in different units (photons/MeV or photons/m) and for different wavelength intervals. In this work we present a comparison of available results normalized to its value in photons/MeV for the 337 nm band at 1013 hPa and 293 K. The conversion of photons/m to photons/MeV requires an accurate determination of the energy deposited by the electrons in the field of view of the experimental set-up. We have calculated the energy deposition for each experiment by means of a detailed Monte Carlo simulation and the results have been compared with those assumed or calculated by the authors. As a result, corrections to the reported fluorescence yields are proposed. These corrections improve the compatibility between measurements in such a way that a reliable average value with uncertainty at the level of 5% is obtained.

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J. Rosado, F. Blanco, F. Arqueros. 2011-04-05. Comparison of available measurements of the absolute air-fluorescence yield and determination of its global average value. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3628711

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