QGSJET-III: predictions for extensive air shower characteristics and the corresponding uncertainties

TL;DR

This paper discusses the QGSJET-III model's predictions for extensive air showers, compares them with other models, and analyzes uncertainties, especially concerning muon content and shower development delays.

Contribution

It introduces the QGSJET-III model's predictions and provides a quantitative analysis of uncertainties in air shower simulations.

Findings

QGSJET-III predictions are compared with other models.

Uncertainty analysis highlights muon content enhancement possibilities.

Shower development delay scenarios are discussed.

Abstract

The physics content of the QGSJET-III Monte Carlo model of high energy hadronic interactions is briefly described. The predictions of the model for extensive air shower characteristics are presented in comparison to the corresponding results of other Monte Carlo generators of cosmic ray interactions. The results of a recent quantitative analysis of uncertainties for such predictions are discussed, notably, regarding possibilities to enhance the muon content of extensive air showers or to delay the air shower development.