Estimation of the energy of the electron-photon component of cosmic rays on the basis of data for Cherenkov light from ultrahigh-energy extensive air showers

The energy fraction E _em/E ₀ dissipated to the electron-photon component of extensive air showers (EASs) for E ₀=10¹⁵−10¹⁹ eV is estimated using data on Cherenkov radiation and charged particles from the Yakutsk EAS array. The results are compared with models with different dissipations to the electron-photon component and with calculations for various primary nuclei. In the energy range 10¹⁵−10¹⁶ eV and 10¹⁸−10¹⁹ eV, the ratio E _em/E ₀ is equal to 77 ± 2 and 88 ± 2, respectively, in agreement with the mixed and proton contents of primary cosmic rays in the former and latter energy ranges, respectively.