Abstract
Different attempts to measure hadronic cross sections with cosmic ray data are reviewed. The major results are compared to each other and the differences in the corresponding analyses are discussed. Besides some important differences, it is crucial to see that all analyses are based on the same fundamental relation of longitudinal air shower development to the observed fluctuation of experimental observables. Furthermore, the relation of the measured proton-air to the more fundamental proton-proton cross section is discussed. The current global picture combines hadronic proton-proton cross section data from accelerator and cosmic ray measurements and indicates a good consistency with predictions of models up to the highest energies.
Highlights
The energy of cosmic ray particles extends far beyond the reach of current accelerator experiments
Before the first precise measurements made at the ISR became available (e.g. [1]), it was cosmic ray data that unambiguously indicated the presence of the pomeron and the begin of a rise of the hadronic cross sections towards higher energies [2]
In general we find that the global picture of high energy accelerator measurements of proton-proton cross sections, the extrapolation of those to higher energies by interaction models and cosmic ray measurements of protonair cross sections show in general no significant disagreement [4]
Summary
The energy of cosmic ray particles extends far beyond the reach of current accelerator experiments. [1]), it was cosmic ray data that unambiguously indicated the presence of the pomeron and the begin of a rise of the hadronic cross sections towards higher energies [2]. In general we find that the global picture of high energy accelerator measurements of proton-proton cross sections, the extrapolation of those to higher energies by interaction models and cosmic ray measurements of protonair cross sections show in general no significant disagreement [4]. How precise data of air shower fluctuations can be used directly to constrain ultra-high energy cross sections is the topic of section 5
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