Particle production at high energy

Abstract

This thesis concerns the strong interactions of elementary particles and in particular the scattering of particles at the highest measured energies. Chapter one is divided into two parts, of which the first is an introduction to those aspects of the strong interaction with which we are concerned. The ideas introduced are then discussed in the second part of the chapter in the context of antiproton production in high-energy proton interactions. An approximate calculation of the production cross-section is presented which gives some insight into the unexpected features of this process. Chapter two is a calculation of the multiplicity distribution produced in proton interactions in a two component model based on Regge pole exchange. With ,a view to reducing the number of free parameters, the multiplicity distribution arising from regge An-particle collisions is assumed to be independent of which reggeon is involved (including, notably, the pomeron). Features of the model are discussed as they arise and finally a fit is performed to the observed multiplicity distribution. In chapter three this model is discussed in the context of momentum dependent measurements. The observed correlation between two mesons is seen to be in agreement with the model, as is the multiplicity distribution in all but one of the particles produced when the momentum of one is measured. Particular attention is also paid to the, correlation a forward proton and a charged particle in the central region, which is well described without any free parameters. In chapter four the proton inclusive distribution is discussed with regard to the triple pomeron coupling. Particle production from a model with a non-zero triple pomeron coupling is discussed in relation to the preceding chapters. Finally a brief summary of the findings of these chapters is presented.