Multiplicity distributions in a quark model for high-energy nucleon-nucleon scattering

A quark model for high-energy nucleon-nucleon scattering is outlined. The ratio of elastic to total cross section and the average transverse momentum of secondary hadrons are constant in this model. A constant value for the average three-momentum transfer in high-energy collisions is assumed based on the physical picture of two Lorentz-contracted disks colliding at infinite momentum in the c.m. Besides the nucleon and pion masses, only the three constants mentioned previously are needed to calculate hadronic multiplicity distributions, and these constants can be determined from experimental data. The average charged-hadron multiplicity calculated from the model grows as $E^{\frac{1}{4}}$ at asymptotic energies, where $E$ is the laboratory energy of the projectile. The calculated values of the higher moments of the multiplicity distribution show the same qualitative behavior as is experimentally observed.