Inelastic proton-air cross section at 0.2 TeV-10 PeV

TL;DR

This study analyzes extensive air shower data from the Tien Shan array to examine how the inelastic proton-air cross section increases with energy from 0.2 TeV to 10 PeV, supporting newer interaction models.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence for the energy-dependent growth of the proton-air cross section, favoring the QGSJET-II-04 model based on recent LHC data.

Findings

The inelastic proton-air cross section rises by 7-9% per energy decade.

At 1 PeV, the cross section is approximately 350 mb.

The QGSJET-II-04 model better matches the observed slower increase.

Abstract

Experimental data from the Tien Shan complex array on different components of extensive air showers at 0.5-10 PeV primary cosmic rays are compared with results of various calculated models of cosmic rays interactions at the atmosphere. Conclusion is made about the growth with energy of the inelastic proton-air cross section {\sigma}p-air from 0.2 TeV (accelerator experiments with fixed targets) to 10 PeV (cosmic rays). The analysis showed that the rise conforms to (7-9)% per one order of energy. That corresponds to {\sigma}p-air (1 PeV) = 350 mb. These data correspond better to the new QGSJET-II-04 version of the interaction model based on the recent LHC results. This model predicts better the slower rise of the cross section than previous versions of QGSJET-II and some other models.