CORSIKA modification for electric field simulations on pions, kaons and muons

Large variations in muonflux above 1 GeV are observed in GRAPES-3 muontelescope during thunderstormactivity as a result of acceleration of muonsin the atmospheric electricfields. To interpret this phenomenon quantitatively, detailed Monte Carlo simulations had to be carried out using the CORSIKA package. In CORSIKA the effects of applied electric fieldcan be simulated by the option EFIELD. However, this option works only for electrons, and positrons as a consequence the variation observed in the GRAPES-3 muonflux could not be simulated. To address this issue, we extended the EFIELD option to simulate applied electric fieldon charged pions, kaons, and muons. This extension also allows the user to define the cloud heightwhere the electric fieldexists. Initial simulations show that at high electric potentials, the muonflux decreases irrespective of its polarity. Detailed results of the simulations will be presented at the conference.