Alignment in hadronic interactions

TL;DR

This paper discusses the puzzling alignment phenomena observed in high-energy cosmic ray interactions and proposes a new explanation based on experimental data from multiple high-altitude experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a novel explanation for the alignment phenomena in hadronic interactions based on extensive experimental observations.

Findings

Alignment observed in multiple experiments supports a common underlying phenomenon.

A new theoretical explanation is proposed for the alignment in high-energy interactions.

Experimental data from Pamir, Chacaltaya, Tien-Shan, and Concorde support the hypothesis.

Abstract

The alignment of the products of very high energy interactions seen in mountain altitude experiments is one of the most puzzling phenomena in cosmic ray physics for quite a long time. The observations of the Pamir and Chacaltaya emulsion chamber groups and by the Tien-Shan extensive air shower experiment, together with a very clear event seen in the Concorde French-Japanese experiment in the stratosphere, makes the experimental basis very substantial. In the present paper a novel possible explanation is put forward.