Computer simulation of air showers. Pt. 1

Detailed 4-dimensional air shower simulation calculations were carried out for proton and heavy primary initiated showers. Different high energy interaction models were used, including two-component models (diffraction and pionization-, or isobar-fireball models) and the scaling model. The models include besides nucleon-antinucleon production and annihilation also kaon production, elastic nuclear scattering, ionization losses for all charged particles and coulomb scattering for muons. An attempt has been made to separate the effects caused by rising cross sections and the energy dependence of the secondary particle multiplicity. New parameters were introduced to get information of the height and generation of production of particles and on their past history. (orig.)