A basic model for high energy cosmic ray interactions

TL;DR

This paper introduces a transparent, flexible, and efficient Monte Carlo model for high energy cosmic ray interactions based on Reggeon Field Theory, aimed at improving understanding of extensive air showers and compatibility with accelerator data.

Contribution

A new cosmic ray interaction model with transparent physics, adjustable parameters, and high computational efficiency, facilitating microscopic studies and data compatibility.

Findings

Model successfully reproduces particle production data

Accurately simulates extensive air shower characteristics

Maintains theoretical consistency with physical constraints

Abstract

A Monte Carlo generator of high energy cosmic ray interactions, relying on a very basic and transparent theoretical formalism, in the framework of the Reggeon Field Theory, is presented. The main motivation for our work is to provide a new cosmic ray interaction model characterized by relatively transparent physics, sufficient parameter freedom, and a high computational efficiency, which can be easily managed by external users, including a re-tuning of the model parameters. Such a model can be used for studying potential modifications of the interaction treatment, necessary for describing particular sets of data on extensive air showers initiated by high energy cosmic rays, at a microscopic level, thereby keeping a consistency with general restrictions, like the unitarity, energy-momentum and charge conservation, Lorentz and isospin invariance. Importantly, this should allow one to study a compatibility of such modifications with relevant accelerator data. The model results for particle production and for basic extensive air shower characteristics are presented and discussed.