Updating Monte Carlo collision generators with LHC data up to √s= 8 TeV

Abstract

Abstract. Monte Carlo collision generators describing the multiple production of secondaries in very high energy interactions can be updated taking into account the LHC data available now up to √ s = 8 TeV (3.2 · 10 16 eV). The energy range of the so-called knee energy region in cosmic ray physics (2 · 10 15 -10 17 eV) for proton primaries will soon be completely covered by the LHC data. An extension of the model HDPM of CORSIKA has been developed on a base of the recent measurements by LHCb, CMS, TOTEM... The new model GHOST involving a 4-source production is presented here. It correctly reproduces the pseudo-rapidity distributions of charged secondaries and can help the approach of the data in the mid and forward rapidity region, especially in the complex case of TOTEM. In parallel, simulations of cascades and EAS are also carried out in order to understand unexplained results in energy distributions of very high energy γ 's.