Spectra of hadrons and muons in the atmosphere: primary spectra, characteristics of hadron-air interactions

Abstract

Self-consistency of interaction models QGSJET 01, SIBYLL 2.1, NEXUS 3.97 and QGSJET II is checked in terms of their ability to reproduce simultaneously experimental data on fluxes of muons and hadrons. From this point of view SIBYLL 2.1 gives the most acceptable, though not quite satisfactory, results. Analysis of the situation for muons supports our previous conclusions, that high-energy muon deficit is due both to underestimation of primary light nuclei fluxes in direct emulsion chamber experiments and to softness of $p+A\to\pi^\pm,K^\pm+X$ inclusive spectra in fragmentation region, especially prominent in case of QGSJET 01 model.