A New Approach for Constraining Hadronic Cross Sections at Multi-TeV Energies with Muon Bundles in Deep Underground Detectors

Karolin Hymon^1*, Anatoli Fedynitch¹

¹Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taipei City, Taiwan

* Presenter:Karolin Hymon, email:khymon@gate.sinica.edu.tw

Collisions of high-energy cosmic rays with atmospheric nuclei generate cascades of secondary particles referred to as extensive air showers. Accurate simulations of these cascades rely on the interaction cross sections of the first and secondary hadrons with air nuclei, which remain poorly constrained at multi-TeV energies. Improving the modeling of high-energy pion and proton interactions is essential for addressing the muon puzzle-the observed deficit of muons in simulations compared to indirect experimental estimates. Since collider experiments cannot access the relevant phase space, indirect constraints are required. In this talk, we present a new method to measure inelastic hadronic cross section using muon bundles observable in deep-underground ice/water Cherenkov detectors such as IceCube and KM3NeT. This approach aims to reduce uncertainties in air shower modeling and improve our understanding of cosmic ray interactions in the atmosphere.

Keywords: cosmic rays, extensive air shower, inelastic hadronic cross sections, muon bundles, underground Cherenkov detectors