Constraining pion interactions at very high energies by cosmic ray data

TL;DR

This paper shows that measurements of muon production depth in cosmic ray air showers can significantly constrain high-energy pion-air collision models, reducing uncertainties in predicting shower maximum depth.

Contribution

It introduces a method to use muon production data to constrain pion-air interactions at very high energies, improving model accuracy.

Findings

Muon production depth is highly sensitive to pion-air collision properties.

Cosmic ray data can be used to constrain high-energy interaction models.

Reducing model uncertainties improves predictions of air shower development.

Abstract

We demonstrate that a substantial part of the present uncertainties in model predictions for the average maximum depth of cosmic ray-induced extensive air showers is related to very high energy pion-air collisions. Our analysis shows that the position of the maximum of the muon production profile in air showers is strongly sensitive to the properties of such interactions. Therefore, the measurements of the maximal muon production depth by cosmic ray experiments provide a unique opportunity to constrain the treatment of pion-air interactions at very high energies and to reduce thereby model-related uncertainties for the shower maximum depth.