Investigation of gamma-ray families originating from nucleus-nucleus interactions at ultrahigh energies E0 in excess of 1016 eV

Various spatial and energy features of gamma-ray families originating from the interactions of primary nuclei of galactic cosmic rays with nuclei of atmospheric atoms (AA interactions) are studied. The mass composition of galactic cosmic rays is analyzed on the basis of data from x-ray emulsion chambers of the Pamir experiment with the aid of a criterion for selecting gamma-ray families originating from AA interactions (A families) at energies E0 of primary galactic cosmic rays in excess of 1016 eV. According to the results obtained in this way only the experimental spatial parameters R1E and ρ differ from their counterparts in the MC0 model