Measurement of the cosmic ray all-particle and light-component energy spectra with the ARGO-YBJ experiment

Abstract

The ARGO-YBJ detector, located at high altitude in the Cosmic Ray Observatory of YangBaJing in Tibet (4300 m asl, about 600 g/cm2 of atmospheric depth) provides the opportunity for the study, with unprecedented resolution, of cosmic ray physics in the primary energy region between 1012 and 1016 eV. Preliminary results of the measurements of the all-particle and light-component (i.e. protons and helium) energy spectra between approximately 5 TeV and 5 PeV are reported and discussed.