Glueball and baryon production in parton showers

We propose a topological model for the confining-phase transition based on string formation. Our glueball is a string loop, our baryon a ssY-shaped junction. If ${\mathit{f}}_2$(1720) is a glueball, we estimate its production rate to be of order a few percent in the cc¯ system and ∼5% for inclusive decay of the bb¯ system. A numerical simulation shows that glueball and baryon production depend strongly on the shape of the parton shower. These shape dependences may prove useful as diagnostics for jetiness. If our model is correct, ${\mathrm{\chi }}_{\mathit{c}}$, ψ(2S), and Υ will be excellent sources for studying glueball spectroscopy.