Fractal Electromagnetic Showers

Abstract

We study the self-similar structure of electromagnetic showers and introduce the notion of the fractal dimension of a shower. Studies underway of showers in various materials and at various energies are presented, and the range over which the fractal scaling behaviour is observed is discussed. Applications to fast shower simulations and identification, particularly in the context of extensive air showers, are also discussed.Comment: Talk to be presented at the XI International Symposium on Very High Energy Cosmic Ray Interaction