Physics
Scientific paper
Sep 2000
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2000phdt........14m&link_type=abstract
Thesis (PhD). THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, Source DAI-B 61/03, p. 1468, Sep 2000, 112 pages.
Physics
Scientific paper
The physics of atmospheric cascades induced by ultrahigh energy cosmic rays above the GZK cutoff is investigated. A flexible air shower generator is developed for the exploration of air shower properties under various assumptions about the underlying hadronic physics. Included is an efficient algorithm for the simulation of electromagnetic cascades which emphasizes consistency with the standard Greisen formula for photons. The uncertainties in hadronic interaction physics relevant to air shower properties are bracketed with conservative models which characterize limiting scenarios. The effects of scaling violations in hadron-nucleon and hadron- nucleus iteractions are addressed. Emphasis is on the fragmentation region which is of most relevance to air shower development. The physics uncertainties imply an uncertainty in the average depth at maximum for proton induced cascades at the highest energies which is comparable to the separation between protons and iron. Consequently, it will be difficult to extract information about the composition at the highest energies. The possibility of detecting new physics or exotic primaries is discussed. Given the uncertainties associated the highest energies, very long interaction lengths are required in the initial stages of anomalous showers to clearly distinguish them from traditional scenarios (smooth evolution of the hadronic physics and a composition of protons and/or nuclei). An implementation of the LPM effect which suppresses electromagnetic cross sections in air at the highest energies is also described.
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