On-line measurement system for cosmic rays at energies above 1013 eV

The experimental facility intended for investigation of cosmic rays at 5-10 TeV energies is described. The facility consists of a target, x-ray emulsion chambers and ionization calorimeter (IC). IC represents a block of material (iron and lead) of 1.75x5.50x8.00 m, dimension inside which 6 series of ionization chambers are located. The IC area constitutes 44 m2, its height is 1.75 m, total quantity of iron in the absorber block is 425 t, the lead mass is 30 t. The IC comprises 672 ionization chambers and operates on-line with the Ehlehktronika-100 computer. The system electronics is constructed using CAMAC integrated circuits. The facility permits to measure the primary particle energy, total energy of all neutral mesons generated in the interaction and therefore, partial inelasticity coefficient, to determine the interaction height above the facility, γ-quantum escape angles relative to their energy-weighted center, zenith and azimuthal angles for the primary particle of overthreshold γ-quanta. Moreover the facility provides the possibility to investigate the development of electron-nuclear cascade with material depth (cascade form, fluctuations, range)