Extensive Air Showers and the Physics of High Energy Interactions
arXiv:hep-ph/0703213 · doi:10.1016/j.astropartphys.2007.03.001
Abstract
Extensive Air Showers are still the only source of information on primary cosmic rays and their interactions at energies above PeV. However, this information is hidden inside the multiplicative character of the cascading process. Inspite of the great experimental and theoretical efforts the results of different studies are often ambiguous and even conflicting. These controversies can partly be referred to imperfections of our models of high energy interactions. The first part of the paper is concerned with this problem. The author thinks that the present models should be corrected to give slightly deeper penetration of the cascade into the atmosphere. In this respect the modification suggested by the QGSJET-II model seems to be the step in the right direction. The Sibyll 2.1 model provides a similar penetrating properties. However, this modification is not enough and a small additional transfer of the energy from EAS hadrons to the electromagnetic component is needed too. As a possible candidate for such a process the inelastic charge exchange of pions is discussed. In the second part of the paper the author discusses the need to account for the interaction of EAS with the stuff of detectors, their environment and the ground in the light of the 'neutron thunder' phenomenon, discovered recently.
arXiv comment10 pages, 5 figures, invited talk at 20th ECRS, Lisbon, Portugal, September 2006; accepted by Astroparticle Physics
References in corpus (9)
- On the knee in the energy spectrum of cosmic rays
- QGSJET-II: towards reliable description of very high energy hadronic interactions
- On total inelastic cross-sections and the average depth of the maximum of extensive air showers
- Models for cosmic ray interactions
- Strangelets in cosmic rays
- Properties of Cosmic Ray Interactions at PeV Energies
- The neutron 'thunder' accompanying the extensive air shower
- 'Sling effect' in the development of atmospheric cascades induced by primary cosmic ray nuclei
- Late Arriving Particles in Cosmic Ray Air Showers and AGASA's Determination of UHECR Energies