String formation beyond leading colour

• We present a new model for the hadronisation of multi-parton systems, in which colour correlations beyond leading N-C are allowed to influence the formation of confining potentials (strings). The multiplet structure of SU(3) is combined with a minimisation of the string potential energy, to decide between which partons strings should form, allowing also for "baryonic" configurations (e.g., two colours can combine coherently to form an anticolour). In e(+)e (-) collisions, modifications to the leading-colour picture are small, suppressed by both colour and kinematics factors. But in pp collisions, multi-parton interactions increase the number of possible subleading connections, counteracting their naive 1/N-C(2) suppression. Moreover, those that reduce the overall string lengths are kine-matically favoured. The model, which we have implemented in the PYTHIA 8 generator, is capable of reaching agreement not only with the important < p perpendicular to >(n(charged)) distribution but also with measured rates (and ratios) of kaons and hyperons, in both ee and pp collisions. Nonetheless, the shape of their p perpendicular to spectra remains challenging to explain.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Subatomär fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Subatomic Physics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

QCD Phenomenology

Monte Carlo Simulations

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)