Study of the longitudinal development of extensive air showers with the Muon Tracking Detector in KASCADE-Grande

The Muon Tracking Detector (MTD) in the KASCADE-Grande experiment measures with high accuracy muon directions in EAS (Eμ>800 MeV) up to 700 m distance from the shower center. In addition, shower directions are determined by the experiment also with high precision. These two conditions allow to study shower longitudinal development by means of quantities like mean muon production height, muon pseudorapidities and lateral distributions of muon densities. Results of such investigations by means of muon lateral distributions and muon pseudorapidity distributions are presented. The lateral distributions of muon densities will be shown in four energy bins, between 1016 eV and 1017 eV, for experimental data and simulations based on CORSIKA with QGSJetII+Fluka2002.4 model combination. The pseudorapidity distributions will be studied in a predefined distance range to the shower core and several energy bins, and compared with the simulations as well.