Energy spectrum of primary cosmic rays above 10^17.0eV determined from extensive air shower experiments at Akeno

The energy spectrum of primary cosmic rays above 1017.0 eV has been updated from data collected with two extensive air shower arrays operating at Akeno, one with area 1 km2 and the other with area 20 km2. Along with the authors previous results in the lower energy region, the energy spectrum has been determined over about five decades of energy from 1014.5 eV to 1019.8 eV. A change in the index of the power-law energy spectrum is observed around 1017.8 eV, as well as the usual features, namely the knee around 1015.7 eV and the ankle around 1019.0 eV. The indices of the differential power-law energy spectrum are: (2.62+or-0.12) below 1015.7 eV, (3.02+or-0.03) for 1015.7 approximately 1017.8 eV and (3.16+or-0.08) for 1017.8 approximately 1018.8 eV. There is an indication of a flattening of the spectrum above approximately 1018.8 eV with an index of (2.8+or-0.3). The flux above 1018 eV is (1.5 approximately 2.4)*10-12 m-2s-1sr-1 and is in good agreement with other experiments. The number of showers above 1019.5 eV is seven for an exposure of 80 km2 yr sr and further investigation by a new Akeno giant air shower array (AGASA), whose operation has started, is necessary to determine a cutoff energy in the spectrum, if any.