The employment of a corona discharge in the Earth constant electric field is discussed for generating high-intensity ion fluxes serving as main condensation centers for vapor and drop coagulation in free atmosphere. Physical basis of the method and its application for stimulation and enhancement of precipitations are considered.

The propagation and detection of electron–nuclear cascades in an ionization calorimeter are considered, and it is shown that the attenuation length associated with ionization may differ strongly from the attenuation length for the energy flux. A possible reason for the hypothesis of a long-range component in detecting cores of extensive air showers is proposed.

A method is suggested for generating an air updraft in the atmosphere by heating air at multiple levels of a garland comprised of fastened aerostats with black balloons. The balloon surfaces are heated by the sun and transfer heat to air, whereas grounded emitters arranged in tiers saturate air with charged ions that serve as condensation centers. The principal aims are producing clouds, stimulation of precipitation, and purification of air from pollutions.

We present a general description as well as a sample of illustrative experimental results of the Tien Shan high altitude detector complex which is aimed for fundamental and applied investigations in different fields of astroparticle, atmospheric, and environmental physics. The unique natural conditions of the Tien Shan Mountain Scientific Station where this complex resides, the presence of a modern equipment, and the use of multi-messenger integrated approach by detection of various radiation types open a new stage of research in cosmic ray physics and high-energy atmospheric phenomena.

The original difference method used in the search for an anisotropy of primary cosmic radiation at the knee region of its energy spectrum is considered. Its methodical features and properties are analyzed. It is shown that this method, in which properties of particle fluxes (rather than an intensity) are investigated, is stable against random experimental errors and allows one to separate anomalies connected with the laboratory coordinate system from anomalies in the celestial coordinate system. The method uses the multiple scattering of charged particles in the magnetic fields of the Galaxy to study the whole celestial sphere, including the regions outside the line of sight of the installation.

Methodical properties and features of the original difference method for searching for the anisotropy in the knee region of the primary cosmic ray energy spectrum are analyzed. It is shown that the method in which properties of particle fluxes, rather than intensities, are studied is stable to randomexperimental errors andmakes it possible to separate anomalies associatedwith the laboratory coordinate system from anomalies in the celestial coordinates. The method uses multiple scattering of charged particles in galactic magnetic fields for studying the entire celestial sphere, including sky regions beyond the installation line of sight.

The primary cosmic ray energy spectrum at energies of 10 15 to 5 × 10 17 eV is presented using the results from observations by the Tien Shan HADRON array. The spectrum was obtained from the spectrum of showers according to the number of electrons using a new way of determining the parameter of spatial distribution function S of electrons. The energy spectrum can be extended to low energies up to 2 × 10 13 eV using data from separate experiments at the former Tien Shan array. Conclusions are drawn regarding changes in the form of the spectrum and its chemical composition at energies over 10 16 eV. The spectrum is compared to the results from the TUNKA installation.

Based on experimental data obtained by the GAMMA array for the knee energy region, an anomaly is found in the mass composition of primary cosmic rays arriving from the region of the Vela cluster. An original difference method is used that offers high sensitivity, protection against accidental experimental errors, and the ability to separate anomalies associated with the laboratory coordinate system from those in celestial coordinates. Allowing for the multiple scattering of charged particles in the galactic magnetic fields allows parts of the sky not directly visible from the array to be studied.

We present a description of the new complex installation for the study of extensive air showers which was created at the Tien Shan mountain cosmic ray station, as well as the results of the first measurements made there in 2015–2016. We also present new results on high-energy radiation observed during a thunderstorm.

The primary cosmic ray energy spectrum at energies of 1015 to 5 × 1017 eV is presented using the results from observations by the Tien Shan HADRON array. The spectrum was obtained from the spectrum of showers according to the number of electrons using a new way of determining the parameter of spatial distribution function S of electrons. The energy spectrum can be extended to low energies up to 2 × 1013 eV using data from separate experiments at the former Tien Shan array. Conclusions are drawn regarding changes in the form of the spectrum and its chemical composition at energies over 1016 eV. The spectrum is compared to the results from the TUNKA installation.

In this paper we present a description of the new complex installation for the study of extensive air showers which was created at the Tien Shan mountain cosmic ray station, as well as the results of the test measurements made there in 2014-2016. At present, the system for registration of electromagnetic shower component consists of similar to 100 detector points built on the basis of plastic scintillator plates with the sensitive area of 0.25 m(2) and 1 m(2), spread equidistantly over similar to 104 m(2) space. The dynamic range of scintillation amplitude measurements is currently about (3-7) 104, and there is a prospect of it being extended up to similar to 106. The direction of shower arrival is defined by signal delays from a number of the scintillators placed cross-wise at the periphery of the detector system. For the investigation of nuclear active shower components a multi-tier 55 m(2) ionization-neutron calorimeter with a sum absorber thickness of 1000 g/cm(2), typical spatial resolution of the order of 10 cm, and dynamic range of ionization measurement channel about similar to 105 was created. Also, the use of saturation-free neutron detectors is anticipated for registration of the high-and low-energy hadron components in the region of shower core. A complex of underground detectors is designed for the study of muonic and penetrative nuclear active components of the shower.The full stack of data acquisition, detector calibration, and shower parameters restoration procedures are now completed, and the newly obtained shower size spectrum and lateral distribution of shower particles occur in agreement with conventional data. Future studies in the field of 10(14)-10(17) eV cosmic ray physics to be held at the new shower installation are discussed. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Results from a blind search for localised regions of excessive fluxes of cosmic rays in the energy range from 50 TeV to 20 PeV using the data of the FIAN KLARA-Chronotron experiment, the EAS MSU array, and the prototype of the EAS-1000 array are presented. A number of regions with substantial excesses of the registered flux over an expected isotropic backgrounds are found. Some of the regions are found in at least two of the considered data sets.

The methodical properties of the original difference method for the search of the anisotropy at the knee region of the primary cosmic radiation energy spectrum are analyzed. The main feature of the suggested method is a study of the difference in the EAS characteristics in different directions but not their intensity. It is shown that the method is stable to the random experimental errors and allows to separate the anomalies related to the laboratory coordinate system from the anomalies in the celestial coordinates. The method uses multiple scattering of the charge particles in the Galaxy magnetic fields to study the whole celestial sphere including the regions outside of the line of sight of the installation.

We present preliminary results obtained by a novel difference method for the study of the nature of the knee in the energy spectrum of the primary cosmic radiation. We have applied this method to data from the GAMMA experiment in Armenia. The analysis provides evidence for the possible existence of a nearby source of primary cosmic rays in the Southern hemisphere.

A new approach to the analysis of available experimental data for determining the nature of the knee in the spectrum of particles of primary cosmic rays (PCR) is considered. The proposed highly sensitive difference method allows scanning the entire celestial sphere in the search for PCR anomalies and possible sources.

A new installation HORIZON-T is commissioned at the high altitude scientific station of P.N. Lebedev Institute at the Tien-Shan Mountains. The purpose of this installation is to study EAS arriving at the zenith angles close to the horizon. The installation consists of three Vavilov – Cherenkov detectors located at the center of the installation and five registration points for muons which are placed within 500 m from the center. With the help of HORIZON-T installation EAS events have been detected at zenith angles more than 65 degrees, some of which had muon pulses with the front being ahead of one from Vavilov – Cherenkov pulses by more than 20 ns. Simulations show that such EAS are most likely initiated by primary nuclei with the mass more than 10.

The necessity, prospects, and possibility of development of an underground multipurpose device for detecting high-energy penetrating particles (muons) are described. The use of lead as an absorber and plastic scintillators with gadolinium allow the simultaneous use of the device as an ionization-neutron calorimeter and a pairmeter for detecting nuclear and electromagnetic cascades from penetrating particles and separating ones from the others. The presented results of calculations of the pairmeter characteristics using the GEANT program show the possibility of estimating the muon energy from 100 GeV to 200 TeV with an accuracy of 40% for a version with 150 layers (2 cm lead + 1 cm plastic each).

Extensive air showers (EASes) at zenith angles of 70–80 degrees with Vavilov-Cherenkov radiation having two and three maxima were registered at the Tian Shan Mountain Station of the Lebedev Physical Institute. In each such event, the subsequent maxima came with a time delay of 100 or more nanoseconds. Extensive air showers at a zenith angle of 70° with charged particles and Vavilov-Cherenkov radiation were also registered.

Tien Shan experimental data on hadron spectra at 0.5 − 30 TeV and hadron lateral distributions at 0.5 − 5 TeV in extensive air showers originated by 0.3 − 3 PeV primary cosmic rays are compared with different model simulations including CORSIKA+(QGSJet 01 and QGSJet II). Conclusions are derived on growth of the proton-air production cross section and transverse momentum of secondary particles. Our results correspond to (7 − 9)% rise of the proton-air production cross section per one order of magnitude of energy increasing from the accelerator range to EAS one. Proton-air production cross section at E0 = 1 PeV is equal to 350±15 mb, if inelasticity coefficient is 0.65± 0.05. The experiment shows the expansion of hadron lateral distributions at primary energies above 1 PeV that points to the rise of the transverse momentum.