Influence of charmed hadron interactions on the highest energy air showers

C. A. GARCÍA CANAL; J. I. ILLANA; M. MASIP; S. J. SCIUTTO

Lodz, Polonia

Conferencia; 31st International Cosmic Ray Conference; 2009

IUPAP, University of Lodz

The decay length of a charmed hadron of energy above 108 GeV is larger than its interaction length in the atmosphere. We present an analysis of the influence on air shower development of the hadronic interactions involving these longlived charmed hadrons. We model their production in hadron-nucleon collisions using the Montecarlo jet code PYTHIA. The parameterized cross sections and distributions of secondary particles are then included in the air-shower simulator AIRES. The resulting code has been used to simulate showers initiated by the highest energy hadrons in a variety of conditions. Several shower observables generated from these simulations are analyzed, and the most relevant results are discussed.108 GeV is larger than its interaction length in the atmosphere. We present an analysis of the influence on air shower development of the hadronic interactions involving these longlived charmed hadrons. We model their production in hadron-nucleon collisions using the Montecarlo jet code PYTHIA. The parameterized cross sections and distributions of secondary particles are then included in the air-shower simulator AIRES. The resulting code has been used to simulate showers initiated by the highest energy hadrons in a variety of conditions. Several shower observables generated from these simulations are analyzed, and the most relevant results are discussed.