Investigation of multiparticle production above 10₁₄ eV through an analysis of gamma-ray families by the Monte-Carlo method

Features of very high energy interactions (over 10¹⁴ eV) are investigated by the use of the gamma-ray family data obtained with the Mt. Fuji emulsion chamber. Based on a Monte-Carlo calculation, the validity of (1) scaling law of the longitudinal energy distribution in the fragmentation region and (2) constancy of average transverse momentum has been tested. To explain the experimental data, breakdown of the Feynman scaling and/or appreciable increase of the transverse momentum are required if the primary particles do not consist of the heavy elements (A_eff∼50).