On the choice of the lateral distribution function for EAS charged particles
Knowledge of the lateral distribution function (LDF) of charged particles in extensive air showers (EASs) is necessary for adequate determination of both the total number Ne of particles and other parameters used to classify the showers selected for analysis. Many researchers continue to actively use the Nishimura-Kamata-Greisen LDF despite that fact that it was obtained theoretically within a fairly rough approximation of electromagnetic cascade theory. In this study, the dependence of the shape of the EAS spectrum over the number of particles on the type of LDF used to treat experimental data is investigated. The Nishimura-Kamata-Greisen function and the scaling function are analyzed [5]. Major attention is given to the data obtained at the Moscow State University EAS array.