FUSION OF STRINGS AND ITS CONSEQUENCES AT THE HIGHEST COSMIC-RAY ENERGIES

It is shown that the fusion of strings is a source of particle product ion in nucleus-nucleus collisions outside the kinematical limits of nu cleon-nucleon collisions. The spectrum of different particles is compa red with the high energy data on p-A collisions obtaining a reasonable agreement. Results for A-B collisions at root s=19.4 AGeV and root s= 200 AGeV are given and possible implications for cosmic rays are exami ned. Both the enhancement of the cumulative effect and the reduction o f multiplicities implied by string fusion should strongly modify the f irst interactions and the profile of extensive air showers and should be taken into account in their simulation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B .V.