On the influence of cross sections and elasticities of hadronic interactions on air shower observables

Horandel, J. R.; Antoni, T.; Apel, W. D.; Badea, F.; Bekk, K.; Bercuci, A.; Bertaina, Mario Edoardo; Blumer, J.; Bozdog, H.; Brancus, I. M.; Bruggemann, M.; Buchholz, P.; Buttner, C.; Chiavassa, Andrea; Daumiller, K.; Di Pierro, F.; Doll, P.; Engel, R.; Engler, J.; Fessler, F.; Ghia, P. L.; Gils, H. J.; Glasstetter, R.; Haungs, A.; Heck, D.; Kampert, K. H.; Klages, H. O.; Kolotaev, Y.; Maier, G.; Mathes, H. J.; Mayer, H. J.; Milke, J.; Mitrica, B.; Morello, C.; Muller, M.; Navarra, Gianni Maria; Obenland, R.; Oehlschlager, J.; Ostapchenko, S.; Over, S.; Petcu, A.; Plewnia, S.; Rebel, H.; Risse, A.; Roth, M.; Schieler, H.; Scholz, J.; Stumpert, M.; Thouw, T.; Toma, G.; T. C. G.,; Ulrich, H.; Valchierotti, S.; van Buren, J.; Walkowiak, W.; Weindl, A.; Wochele, J.; Zabierowski, J.; Zagromski, S.; Zimmermann, D.

To investigate the impact of uncertainties in the knowledge of properties of individual hadronic interactions on the development of extensive air showers, the inelastic proton-proton cross section and the elasticity of interactions have been modified within the interaction model QGSJET. Air shower simulations are performed using the CORSIKA code. The influence of the modifications on observables like the number of electrons, muons, and hadrons registered at ground level are investigated. The predictions are compared to measurements of the KASCADE experiment.