Simulation of Extensive Air Showers Using PYTHIA 8 with Modified Hadronic Interaction Parameters

The article presents the results of extensive air shower (EAS) simulations using the PYTHIA 8.3 software package. For this purpose, software was developed for simulating the hadron and muon components of EASs. The results of PYTHIA 8.3 calculations were compared with those obtained in CORSIKA-77500 by comparing the longitudinal and transverse muon distributions and the muon energy spectra in EASs. The effect of the free parameters of the hadronization model in PYTHIA 8.3 on the measured characteristics of EASs was investigated, and EAS simulations were performed under the assumption of an excess of heavy mesons and $$t$$ quarks in hadronic interactions.