Astroparticle Basics – Properties of Cosmic-Ray Particles Which of the following are fundamental measurable properties used to characterize cosmic-ray particles detected in experiments?

Introduction / Context:
Cosmic rays include high-energy protons, nuclei, electrons, and other secondary particles produced in atmospheric showers. In cosmic-ray physics and detector design, several intrinsic properties are measured or inferred to identify particle type and energy spectrum. This question asks which properties are central to characterization.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Candidate properties: electric charge, rest mass, and energy.
• Detectors can measure tracks, curvature in magnetic fields, Cherenkov light, calorimetric deposits, and time of flight.
• We want the comprehensive set relevant to identification and analysis.

Concept / Approach:
Electric charge determines track curvature in magnetic spectrometers and ionization pattern. Rest mass (together with momentum) helps identify species via relativistic relations. Energy is essential for spectra, flux, and shower development. All three are foundational in cosmic-ray studies and are used jointly for particle identification and physics interpretations.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Experimental setups (balloon-borne, satellite, ground arrays) routinely report charge (Z), mass/identity (e.g., proton vs. helium), and energy (in MeV/GeV/TeV), confirming the relevance of all three properties.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Selecting only one property is incomplete. Accurate classification requires multiple independent measurements.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing rest mass with relativistic mass. Modern usage relies on invariant (rest) mass and total energy, not “relativistic mass.”

Final Answer:
All of these are its properties