Constrains of hadronic interaction models from the cosmic muon observations

TL;DR

This paper introduces a simple simulation method for the vertical muon energy spectrum to evaluate hadronic interaction models, revealing discrepancies in secondary particle production compared to cosmic muon data and LHC results.

Contribution

It presents a straightforward simulation approach to constrain hadronic interaction models using cosmic muon data, highlighting differences between models and experimental results.

Findings

QGSJET II-04 overestimates secondary particle production

QGSJET II-03 underestimates secondary particle production

LHC data supports the constraints derived from muon observations

Abstract

A simple method of the vertical muon energy spectrum simulations have been suggested. These calculations have been carried out in terms of various models of hadronic interactions. The most energetic $ \pi^\pm $-mesons and K$^\pm $-mesons produced in hadron interactions contribute mainly in to this energy spectrum of muons due to the very steep energy spectrum of the primary particles. So, some constraints on the hadronic interaction models may be set from a comparison of calculated results with the cosmic data on the vertical muon energy spectrum. This comparison showed that the most energetic secondary particles production is too high in case of the QGSJET II-04 model and rather low in case of the QGSJET II-03 model. These conclusion have been supported by the LHC data.