https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201920808003
Tests of hadronic interactions with measurements by Pierre Auger Observatory
1
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Platanenallee 6, D-15738 Zeuthen, Germany
2
IKP, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Postfach 3640, D-76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
3
Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC/USP), Av. Trabalhador São-carlense 400, 13566-590, São Carlos, Brazil
4
Av. San Martin Norte 304, 5613 Malargüe, Argentina
* e-mail: raul.prado@desy.de
Published online: 10 May 2019
The hybrid design of the Pierre Auger Observatory allows for the measurement of a number of properties of extensive air showers initiated by ultra-high energy cosmic rays. By comparing these measurements to predictions from air shower simulations, it is possible to both infer the cosmic ray mass composition and test hadronic interactions beyond the energies reached by accelerators. In this paper, we will present a compilation of results of air shower measurements by the Pierre Auger Observatory which are sensitive to the properties of hadronic interactions and can be used to constrain the hadronic interaction models. The inconsistencies found between the interpretation of different observables with regard to primary composition and between their measurements and simulations show that none of the currently used hadronic interaction models can provide a proper description of air showers and, in particular, of the muon production.
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2019
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
