Ultrahigh energy predictions of proton-air cross sections from accelerator data: An update
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208 (United States)
At {radical}(s)=57{+-}7 TeV, the Pierre Auger Observatory (PAO) measured the p-air inelastic production cross section, {sigma}{sub p-air}{sup prod}=475{+-}22(stat){+-}{sub 15}{sup 20}(syst) mb, assuming a proton cosmic ray beam with a 25% helium contamination. From a Glauber calculation, they found the inelastic pp cross section, {sigma}{sub inel}=90{+-}7(stat){+-}{sub 11}{sup 9}(syst){+-}1.5(Glaub) mb. Our parameterization of pp and pp total cross sections, {sigma}{sub tot}, using analyticity constraints and unitarity gives accurate extrapolations to ultrahigh energies, and after using a Glauber calculation, accurate predictions for {sigma}{sub p-air}{sup prod}. We find (i) a pp total cross section, {sigma}{sub tot}=133.4{+-}1.6 mb and (ii) {sigma}{sub p-air}{sup prod}=483{+-}3 mb, independently determining a 19% helium contamination. Using our 57 TeV value for pp {sigma}{sub tot}[M. M. Block and F. Halzen, arXiv:1109-2041], we find a pp inelastic cross section, {sigma}{sub inel}=92.9{+-}1.6 mb, agreeing with POA.
- OSTI ID:
- 21607985
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review. D, Particles Fields, Journal Name: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 84; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ACCELERATORS
AIR
BARYONS
COSMIC PROTONS
COSMIC RADIATION
CROSS SECTIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY RANGE
EXTRAPOLATION
FERMIONS
FLUIDS
GASES
HADRONS
HELIUM
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MATHEMATICAL SOLUTIONS
NONMETALS
NUCLEONS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PARTICLE PRODUCTION
PROTONS
RADIATIONS
RARE GASES
TEV RANGE
TEV RANGE 10-100
TOTAL CROSS SECTIONS
UNITARITY