A NEW DETERMINATION OF THE PRIMARY ENERGY-SPECTRUM FROM EAS SIZE MEASUREMENTS

A double correlation of the age parameter with the primary energy/electron size ratio, E0/Ne, and with the muon-electron abundance ratio is observed in a sample of 10000 showers (104<or=N e<or=107) simulated under various conditions. It implies that the primary energy may be determined according to the empirical formula E0=(a1n(Nmu/Ne)+b)Ne, which is valid for any primary (small and medium showers at high altitude). Good agreement with the total primary energy spectrum measured with satellites is obtained. At energies higher than 1-2*106 GeV, consistency between the muon size spectrum and the electron size spectrum requires the occurrence of new mechanisms such as photoproduction or quark gluon plasma.