On the sensitivity of EAS observables at superhigh energies to the physical input of hadron interaction models

The differencies in the underlying assumptions of hadronic interaction mode ls are analysed. The influence of assumed momentum distributions of quarks (antiquarks), positioned at the ends of quark-gluon strings, is investigate d in the framework of QGSJET model. It is shown that for the choice of the effective exponent of these distributions alpha(q) --> 1 calculated EAS cha racteristics become nearer to the predictions of SYBILL model.