Physics of high energy atmospheric muons

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent experimental findings on high-energy atmospheric muons, discusses charge asymmetries and energy loss effects, and explores modern theoretical models for heavy quark production and intrinsic charm in high-energy interactions.

Contribution

It provides an integrated overview of recent experimental results and modern theoretical approaches to high-energy atmospheric muons and heavy quark production.

Findings

Observation of muon charge ratio rise around 1 TeV

Discussion of charge asymmetric energy loss effects

Review of color dipole and saturation models in heavy quark production

Abstract

In the first part of the talk the interesting new results of MINOS, OPERA and CMS collaborations (connected with the observational evidence of the rise in the muon charge ratio at muon energies around 1 TeV) are briefly discussed from theoretical point of view. A short review of charge asymmetric effects in muon energy losses is given. In the second part of the talk, the modern theoretical approaches to the problem of heavy quark production in high energy nucleon-nucleus interactions are briefly considered (color dipole formalism, saturation models). The recent new theoretical developments in the ancient problem of intrinsic charm are also discussed.