Cosmic ray air shower characteristics in the framework of the parton-based Gribov-Regge model NEXUS

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first we want to introduce a new type of hadronic interaction model (NEXUS), which has a much more solid theoretical basis than, for example, presently used models such as QGSJET and VENUS, and ensures therefore a much more reliable extrapolation towards high energies. Secondly, we want to promote an extensive air shower (EAS) calculation scheme, based on cascade equations rather than explicit Monte Carlo simulations, which is very accurate in calculations of main EAS characteristics and extremely fast concerning computing time. We employ the NEXUS model to provide the necessary data on particle production in hadron-air collisions and present the average EAS characteristics for energies ${10}^{14}-{10}^{17}$ eV. The experimental data of the CASA-BLANCA group are analyzed in the framework of the new model.