Proton-proton multiplicity distributions at LHC and the Pomeron intercept

TL;DR

This paper models proton-proton multiplicity distributions at LHC energies using a multiple scattering approach, revealing approximate KNO scaling for small intervals and violations for larger ones, aligning with experimental data.

Contribution

It introduces a multiple scattering model with Poisson distributions for inelastic collisions to explain multiplicity distributions and KNO scaling behaviors at LHC energies.

Findings

Approximate KNO scaling for small pseudo-rapidity intervals

Sizable KNO scaling violations for larger intervals

Model results agree with experimental observations

Abstract

We compute the proton-proton multiplicity distributions at LHC energies in the framework of a multiple scattering model assuming a Poisson distribution for each inelastic collision. Multiple scattering is essential to broaden the multiplicity distribution. We obtain approximate KNO scaling for small pseudo-rapidity intervals ($|\eta | < 0.5$) and sizable KNO scaling violations for larger ones, in agreement with experiment.