Highest energy proton–nucleus cross-sections

The description of very high energy proton–proton cross-sections in terms of a “black disc” with an “edge” allows a simple generalization to highest energy proton–nucleus cross-sections. This results in a leading ln2W term and a ln W term whose coefficient depends linearly on the radius of the nucleus (W the c.m. energy). The necessary parameters are determined from the fits to p–p data. Since the coefficient of the ln W term is rather large, it is doubtful that the regime of ln2W dominance can be reached with available energies in accelerators or cosmic rays. However, the ln W term can be relevant for highest energy cosmic rays in the atmosphere, where a large increase for the cross-section on nitrogen is expected. Tests of the theory should be possible by studying the coefficient of ln W at p-nucleus colliders.