Proton-Proton Total Cross Section above104GeV: Can Cosmic Rays Give the Answer?

From Glauber calculations of the absorption cross section of nucleons on air (${\sigma }_{\mathrm{abs}}$) we find that present extensive-air-shower data cannot resolve the question of the asymptotic energy behavior of the nucleon-nucleon total cross section [${\sigma }_t\mathrm{}\left(\mathrm{NN}\right)\mathrm{}$]. Relative differences between various asymptotic extrapolations for ${\sigma }_t\mathrm{}\left(\mathrm{NN}\right)\mathrm{}$ are reduced by about a factor of 3 in ${\sigma }_{\mathrm{abs}}$ through the Glauber conversion. Novel techniques or conventional experiments with a better determination of electron and muon numbers in extensive air showers will be required in order to obtain useful information on proton-proton cross sections in the asymptotic region.