LHC updated hadronic interaction packages analyzed up to cosmic-ray energies

TL;DR

This study compares pre- and post-LHC versions of hadronic interaction models to assess their impact on cosmic-ray simulations and air shower development, revealing smaller differences post-LHC but persistent discrepancies among models.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of how updated hadronic models influence cosmic-ray simulation results and identifies ongoing discrepancies requiring further research.

Findings

Post-LHC models show reduced differences in secondary particle production.

Persistent discrepancies among models exist even at LHC energies.

Model updates affect air shower observables like muon production depth.

Abstract

The results of high energy simulated experiments where a given hadronic particle impacts on a given target are statistically analyzed. The energy range of the projectiles goes from below the LHC scale up to the highest cosmic ray energies. This study was carried out by using the pre- and post-LHC versions of the hadronic interaction models QGSJET, EPOS and SIBYLL. Our analysis indicates that the post-LHC models present smaller differences in various quantities that characterize the secondary particles produced after the hadronic collisions, in comparison with the corresponding differences that are found comparing the respective old (pre-LHC) versions of the hadronic models. However, it is also found that there exist some discrepancies among models that persist even at the LHC energy scale, that call for further theoretical investigation. An additional analysis of the impact that different modeling of hadronic collisions has on air shower development is also included. It consists of a detailed study of the impact of the different pre- and post-LHC versions of the hadronic models considered, for relevant observables like the muon production depth distribution.