Ultrahigh energy predictions of proton-air cross sections from accelerator data: An update

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Physical Review. D, Particles Fields

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVD.84.091501· OSTI ID:21607985

Block, M M ^[1]

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1. 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, Vol. 84, Issue 9; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.84.091501; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ACCELERATORS
AIR
COSMIC PROTONS
COSMIC RADIATION
EXTRAPOLATION
HELIUM
PARTICLE PRODUCTION
PROTONS
TEV RANGE 10-100
TOTAL CROSS SECTIONS
UNITARITY
BARYONS
CROSS SECTIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY RANGE
FERMIONS
FLUIDS
GASES
HADRONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MATHEMATICAL SOLUTIONS
NONMETALS
NUCLEONS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
RADIATIONS
RARE GASES
TEV RANGE