LATERAL DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRONS IN EAS AT MOUNTAIN ALTITUDE

Simulations of the electron lateral distribution for showers of sizes between 105 and 107 particles at mountain altitudes have been performed. It is found that the electron distribution cannot be described by a single age parameter and that its value increases with radial distance according to s= alpha 'logr+ beta ' (10m<r<150 m). At the universal distance of 45 m (and not 70 m as has been considered previously) there exists a simple proportionality between shower size and density and here the age parameter can be considered to be equal to st, the theoretical value. Comparison between these calculations and the Tien-Shan experimental data shows a systematic size underestimation of 16%.