A basic model for high energy cosmic ray interactions
Abstract
A Monte Carlo generator of high energy cosmic ray interactions, relying on a very basic and transparent theoretical formalism, in the framework of the Reggeon Field Theory, is presented. The main motivation for our work is to provide a new cosmic ray interaction model characterized by relatively transparent physics, sufficient parameter freedom, and a high computational efficiency, which can be easily managed by external users, including a re-tuning of the model parameters. Such a model can be used for studying potential modifications of the interaction treatment, necessary for describing particular sets of data on extensive air showers initiated by high energy cosmic rays, at a microscopic level, thereby keeping a consistency with general restrictions, like the unitarity, energy-momentum and charge conservation, Lorentz and isospin invariance. Importantly, this should allow one to study a compatibility of such modifications with relevant accelerator data. The model results for particle production and for basic extensive air shower characteristics are presented and discussed.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2603.12863,
title = {A basic model for high energy cosmic ray interactions},
author = {Sergey Ostapchenko and Tanguy Pierog and Günter Sigl},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2603.12863},
year = {2026}
}
Comments
accepted for PRD