Very high energy proton-proton cross section

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Physical Review. D, Particles Fields

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVD.79.094008· OSTI ID:21308412

Wibig, Tadeusz ^[1]

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1. University of Lodz, Department of Physics (Poland)and Andrzej Soltan Institute for Nuclear Studies, Uniwersytecka 5, 90-950 Lodz (Poland)

The recent Pierre Auger Observatory result suggesting a coincidence of extensive air showers arrival directions with 'nearby' active galactic nuclei and HiRes discovery of the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin cutoff indicates protons to be only or at least the strongly dominant component of primary extra galactic cosmic ray flux. However, showers initiated by these ultrahigh energy particles developed faster than predicted by the simulation calculations with conventional interaction models. This could be evidence of the substantial increase of the p-air cross section. The progress in understanding the proton-proton cross section description allows us to examine this possibility, and eventually reject it as an explanation of the ultrahigh energy cosmic ray 'pure proton' controversy.

• OSTI ID: 21308412
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields, Journal Name: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 79; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
COSMIC RAY FLUX
CROSS SECTIONS
EXTENSIVE AIR SHOWERS
GALAXY NUCLEI
INTERACTIONS
PROTON-PROTON INTERACTIONS
SIMULATION