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Basic model for high energy cosmic ray interactions

Sergey Ostapchenko1, Tanguy Pierog2, and Günter Sigl1

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Phys. Rev. D 113, 074001 – Published 1 April, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/nzzw-898t

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 retuning 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, and 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.

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Phys. Rev. D 113, 074001– Published 1 April, 2026
  • Received 30 December 2025
  • Accepted 12 March 2026
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