Multiplicity and energy distributions in high-energy $e^{+}{e}^{-}$, $\mathrm{pp}$, and $p\overline{p}$ collisions

An attempt is made to understand the most striking features of multiplicity distribution observed in the recent $p\overline{p}$ collider experiments. It is shown in particular that the validity of Koba-Nielsen-Olesen (KNO) scaling in the central rapidity region, the growth of the central plateau with increasing energy, and the existence and the properties of forward-backward multiplicity correlation can be readily understood in terms of a three-fireball model for nondiffractive hadron-hadron collisions. It is suggested that KNO scaling functions reflect reaction mechanisms. The qualitative difference between the KNO scaling curve in $e^{-}{e}^{+}$ annihilation and that in nondiffractive hadron-hadron collisions is discussed as an example.