Modeling Strangeness Enhancements to resolve the Muon Excess in Cosmic Ray Extensive Air Shower Data

Experimental observations of extensive air showers have revealed an excess the muon content with respect to their theoretical simulations, which we refer as puzzle. This puzzle hampers a precise determination ultra-high-energy cosmic ray mass composition. We investigate potential producing states dense quark-gluon matter (which call fireballs) resolve quantified data from Pierre Auger Observatory on depth shower maximum and number muons at ground. Adopting phenomenological fireball model, find that inelasticity enhancement associated formation plasma state is in tension electromagnetic longitudinal development. Instead, restrict model only enhance strangeness produced Standard Model hadronic interactions, dub this strangeball model. With analytic approach based Heitler-Matthews then explicit sets parameters Constraints shower-to-shower fluctuations require enhancements already energies accessible current-generation collider experiments. At Tevatron LHC estimate 40% interactions produce strangeballs, corresponding 5-9% increase average fraction energy retained cascade compared predictions current interaction models. A comparison relevant measurements LHCf LHCb detectors does not directly exclude scenario, though obtained suggests stringent test 14 TeV.