Multiparton interactions: From pp to pA

TL;DR

This paper reviews the role of diffractive excitations in nuclear collisions, proposing a method to improve extrapolations from proton-proton to proton-nucleus interactions using multiparton interaction models.

Contribution

It introduces a new approach to distinguish diffractively from non-diffractively wounded nucleons, enhancing the accuracy of nuclear collision models.

Findings

Diffractive excitations significantly impact centrality observables in pA collisions.

A new method for classifying wounded nucleons improves model extrapolations.

Proof-of-principle demonstrates potential for more accurate nuclear collision predictions.

Abstract

In the process of understanding nuclear collisions, reliable extrapolations from pp collisions, based on Glauber models, are highly desirable, though seldomly accurate. We review the inclusion of diffractive excitations and argue that they provide an important contribution to centrality observables in pA collisions. We present a method for distinguishing between diffractively and non-diffractively wounded nucleons, and a proof-of-principle for an extrapolation of multiparton interaction models built on this.