Alignment in hadronic interactions

Abstract

The alignment of the products of very high energy interactions seen in mountain altitude experiments is one of the most puzzling phenomena in cosmic ray physics for quite a long time. The observations of the Pamir and Chacaltaya emulsion chamber groups and by the Tien-Shan extensive air shower experiment, together with a very clear event seen in the Concorde French-Japanese experiment in the stratosphere, makes the experimental basis very substantial. In the present paper a novel possible explanation is put forward.