EAS-TOP: The proton-air inelastic cross-section at sqrt(s) ≈ 2 TeV

M. Aglietta, B. Alessandro, P. Antonioli, F. Arneodo, L. Bergamasco, M. Bertaina, A. Castellina, E. Cantoni, A. Chiavassa, B. D.Ettorre Piazzoli, G. Di Sciascio, W. Fulgione, P. Galeotti, P. L. Ghia, M. Iacovacci, G. Mannocchi, C. Morello, G. Navarra, O. Saavedra, A. StamerraG. C. Trinchero, P. Vallania, S. Vernetto, C. Vigorito

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The proton-air inelastic cross section measurement at sqrt(s) ≈ 2 TeV from the EAS-TOP Extensive Air Shower experiment is reported. The technique exploits cosmic ray proton primaries, in the energy region E0 = (1.5 ÷ 2.5) ṡ 1015 eV, studying the absorption length of their cascades when detected at maximum development. Primary energies are selected through the EAS muon number (Ne), and proton originated cascades at maximum development by means of the shower size (Ne). The shower and detector fluctuations are obtained with simulations performed using the CORSIKA code and the QGSJET II and SIBYLL interaction models. The simulations provide the conversion factor (k = λo b s / λi n t), from the observed absorption length (λo b se x p) to the interaction length (λp - air). The obtained value of the p-air inelastic cross section at sqrt(s) ≈ 2 TeV is σp - airi n e l = 338 ± 21 (s t a t) ± 19 (s y s t) - 28 (s y s t) mb. The relevant issue of systematic uncertainties have been studied. The connections with the pp (over(p, -) p) total cross section measurements are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)329-334
Number of pages6
JournalNuclear Physics B - Proceedings Supplements
Volume196
Issue numberC
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics

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