Prompt and conventional high-energy muon spectra from a full Monte Carlo simulation via {CORSIKA}7

Extensive air showers produce high-energy muons that can be utilized to probe hadronic interaction models in cosmic ray interactions. Most muons originate from pion and kaon decays, called conventional muons, while a smaller fraction, referred to as prompt muons, arises from the decay of heavier, short-lived hadrons. The {EHISTORY} option of the air shower simulation tool {CORSIKA}7 is used in this work to investigate the prompt and conventional muon flux in the energy range of \$\$\{100\}{\textbackslash},{\textbackslash}hbox \{{TeV}\}\$\$–\$\$\{100\}{\textbackslash},{\textbackslash}hbox \{{PeV}\}\$\$, utilizing the newly developed open-source python software {PANAMA}. Identifying the muon parent particles allows for scaling the contribution of prompt particles, which can be leveraged by future experimental analyses to measure the normalization of the prompt muon flux. Obtained prompt muon spectra from {CORSIKA}7 are compared to {MCEq} results. The relevance to large-volume neutrino detectors, such as {IceCube} and {KM}3NeT, and the connection to hadronic interaction models is discussed.

  • Published in:
    The European Physical Journal C
  • Type:
    Article
  • Authors:
    Neste, Ludwig; Gutjahr, Pascal; Hünnefeld, Mirco; Alameddine, Jean-Marco; Rhode, Wolfgang; Tjus, Julia; Riehn, Felix; Kröninger, Kevin; Albrecht, Johannes
  • Year:
    2025
  • Source:
    https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-025-14444-y

Citation information

Neste, Ludwig; Gutjahr, Pascal; Hünnefeld, Mirco; Alameddine, Jean-Marco; Rhode, Wolfgang; Tjus, Julia; Riehn, Felix; Kröninger, Kevin; Albrecht, Johannes: Prompt and conventional high-energy muon spectra from a full Monte Carlo simulation via {CORSIKA}7, The European Physical Journal C, 2025, 85, 7, 759, July, https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-025-14444-y, Neste.etal.2025a,

Associated Lamarr Researchers

Wolfgang Rhode Lamarr Institute Physics - Lamarr Institute for Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Prof. Dr. Dr. Wolfgang Rhode

Area Chair Physics to the profile
Photo. Portrait of Julia Tjus.

Prof. Dr. Julia Tjus

Associated Principal Investigator Physics to the profile
lamarr institute person Albrecht Johannes - Lamarr Institute for Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Prof. Dr. Johannes Albrecht

Principal Investigator Physics to the profile