A Direct Comparison of Muon Measurements at the Yakutsk Array and the Pierre Auger Observatory

Abstract

Here we consider the results of direct measurements of muons in extensive air showers with zenith angles $\theta \le 45^{\circ}$ and energy above $10^{17}$ eV, obtained at the Pierre Auger Observatory and Yakutsk array. In both experiments muons were registered with underground scintillation detectors with $\approx 1.0 \times \sec\theta$ GeV energy threshold. Measured density values were compared to theoretical predictions calculated within the framework of the QGSJet-II.04 hadron interaction model. They differ by factor $1.53 \pm 0.13$(stat). We demonstrate that this difference is due to overestimation of muon densities by 1.22 times and underestimation of primary energy by 1.25 times in the Auger experiment.