On the deficit of calculated muon flux at sea level for energies $>100$ GeV

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the problem, why the use of the direct data on primary nuclei spectra together with the modern hadronic interaction models leads to significant deficit of computed vertical muon flux at sea level for energies $>100$ GeV. We suggest, that to find out the source of this inconsistency it is necessary to perform an analysis of sensitivity of emulsion chamber data to variations of hadron-nucleus interaction characteristics. Such analysis will give more ground for discussion of adequacy of the up-to-date interaction models and of mutual compatibility of primary nuclei spectra, obtained in direct and EAS experiments.