Status and prospects of the LHCf experiment

The Large Hadron Collider forward (LHCf) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) measures neutral particle production in the very forward region of proton-proton and proton-ion collisions, aiming to improve hadronic interaction models (HIMs) used in ultra-high-energy cosmic ray (UHECR) simulations. This paper presents recent experimental activities of LHCf. Results from Run II, where neutron energy spectra and forward $\eta$ meson production were measured at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV, are discussed in detail. Discrepancies between the data and HIM predictions, particularly in neutron elasticity distributions and $\eta$ meson production rates, highlight the need for refinement of these models. In Run III, LHCf collected about ten times more data, enabling more precise measurements of neutral mesons, including $\pi^0$, $\eta$, $K_s^0$, and $\Lambda^0$. Collaborative operations with the ATLAS experiment permitted combined analyses, enhancing studies of diffractive processes and the one-pion exchange mechanism. Future prospects include proton-Oxygen collisions in 2025, providing direct insights into cosmic ray interactions with atmospheric nuclei and reducing uncertainties associated with previous extrapolations from proton-proton and proton-Lead data.