Measurement of the proton-air inelastic cross section at {radical}(s){approx_equal}2 TeV from the EAS-TOP experiment

Journal Article · Sun Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 2009 · Physical Review. D, Particles Fields

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVD.79.032004· OSTI ID:21259872

Aglietta, M; Castellina, A; Fulgione, W; Mannocchi, G; Morello, C; Trinchero, G C; Vallania, P; Vernetto, S ^[1]; Alessandro, B ^[2]; Antonioli, P ^[3]; Arneodo, F ^[4]; Bergamasco, L; Bertaina, M; Chiavassa, A; Galeotti, P; Navarra, G; Saavedra, O; Vigorito, C ^[2]; Cantoni, E ^[1]; D'Ettorre Piazzoli, B ^[5]

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1. Istituto di Fisica dello Spazio Interplanetario (INAF), I-10133 Torino (Italy)
2. Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, I-10125 Torino (Italy)
3. Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, I-40126 Bologna (Italy)
4. Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, INFN, I-67010 Assergi (AQ) (Italy)
5. Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche dell'Universita and INFN, I-80126 Napoli (Italy)

The proton-air inelastic cross section ({sigma}{sub p-air}{sup inel}) is measured at {radical}(s){approx_equal}2 TeV at the EAS-TOP extensive air shower experiment by studying the absorption length of cosmic ray proton primaries cascades reaching the maximum development at the observation level. Primary energies, in the region E{sub 0}=(1.5 divide 2.5){center_dot}10{sup 15} eV, are selected through the EAS muon number (N{sub {mu}}), and proton originated cascades at maximum development are selected by means of the shower size (N{sub e}). The observed absorption length ({lambda}{sub obs}) is a convolution of the proton-air interaction length ({lambda}{sub p-air}) and of the shower and detector fluctuations. The conversion factor k={lambda}{sub obs}/{lambda}{sub int} is obtained by means of simulations performed with the CORSIKA code and the QGSJET II and SIBYLL interaction models. The obtained value of the p-air inelastic cross section at {radical}(s){approx_equal}2 TeV is {sigma}{sub p-air}{sup inel}=338{+-}21(stat){+-}19(syst)-28(syst) mb. The statistical and systematic uncertainties, as well as the relationships with the pp (pp) total cross section measurements are discussed.

• OSTI ID: 21259872
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields, Journal Name: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 79; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ABSORPTION
EXTENSIVE AIR SHOWERS
FLUCTUATIONS
INELASTIC SCATTERING
INTERACTIONS
MUON NUMBER
PROTON-PROTON INTERACTIONS
PROTONS
SIMULATION
TEV RANGE 01-10
TOTAL CROSS SECTIONS