Measurement of cosmic muon charge ratio with the Large Volume Detector

N. Yu. Agafonova, M. Aglietta, P. Antonioli, G. Bari, R. Bertoni, V. V. Boyarkin, E. Bressan, G. Bruno, V. L. Dadykin, E. A. Dobrynina, R. I. Enikeev, W. Fulgione, P. Galeotti, M. Garbini, P. L. Ghia, P. Giusti, E. Kemp, A. S. Malgin, B. Miguez, A. Molinario, R. Persiani, I. A. Pless, V. G. Ryasny, O. G. Ryazhskaya, O. Saavedra, G. Sartorelli, M. Selvi, G. C. Trinchero, C. Vigorito, V. F. Yakushev, A. Zichichi

Published 2013-11-27, updated 2015-02-14Version 5

The charge ratio ${k \equiv \mu^+/\mu^-}$ for atmospheric muons has been measured using Large Volume Detector (LVD) in the INFN Gran Sasso National Laboratory, Italy (minimal depth is 3000 m w.e.). To reach this depth muons should have the energy at the sea level greater than 1.3 TeV. The muon charge ratio was defined using the number of the decays of stopping positive muons in the LVD iron structure and the decays of positive and negative muons in scintillator. We have obtained the value of the muon charge ratio ${k}$ ${= 1.26 \pm 0.04(stat) \pm 0.11(sys)}$.