The experimental data on topological cross sections, single particle distributions and correlations observed in proton–proton collisions at high energies are discussed in the framework of multiperipheral and fragmentation pictures.
The paper is a review of the most recent data on particle production (mostly single particle inclusive production) at the CERN Intersecting Storage Rings. Discussed are total cross-sections, elastic cross-sections, production of \(\pi ^+\), \(K^+\) and p\(^+\) in the forward direction and in the large angle region, production of particles with large transverse momentum.
Some characteristic features of inclusive spectra obtained in experiments at conventional accelerators are reviewed. Discussed are particle multiplicities, longitudinal momenta in the reactions \(K^+{\rm p} \to K^0+X\), \(K^+{\rm p} \to K^{*+}+X\), transverse momenta.
A multiperipheral model, based on a quantum field theory approach (equations of the Bethe–Salpeter type) is discussed. Statistical processes are taken into account as an irreducible part of the Bethe–Salpeter equation. The fire-ball formation is obtained as a result of statistical processes of such a type.
A simple model for uncorrelated meson production in \(p\)–\(p\) collisions is extended to include exact conservation of isospin. The correlations between charged particles are so strongly enhanced that the width of the charged particle distribution becomes proportional to the average charged particle multiplicity. For high energies the multiplicity distribution has an energy independent scaling behavior. in the limit of infinite energy this scaling is of the type predicted by Koba, Nielsen and Olesen. The scaling function is singular at a certain value of \(N_{\rm c}/{\overline {N}}_{\rm c}\) and beyond this point it vanishes exactly. For large, but not infinite, values of \({\overline {N}}_{\rm c}\) the maximum in the topological Cross-sections occurs for \(N_{\rm c}/{\overline {N}}_{\rm c}\) near this singular point. The value of the maximum cross-sect ion behaves like \({\overline {N}}_{\rm c}^{-\frac {3}{4}}\ \sigma _{\rm intel}\). The model is compared with the results of recent experiments.
The evidence for the unexpectedly high transparency of nuclei to newly produced particles, and the theoretical interpretations of this phenomenon are reviewed.
