Strangeness Enhancement due to String Fluctuations

TL;DR

This paper investigates how string tension fluctuations in high multiplicity proton-proton collisions lead to strangeness enhancement, using a model that fits pion spectra and predicts increased strange hadron production.

Contribution

It introduces a model linking string tension fluctuations to strangeness enhancement, validated through fits to transverse momentum spectra and PYTHIA simulations.

Findings

Exponential pion spectra fit well to data across multiplicities

String fluctuations correlate with increased strange to light quark ratios

Predicted strange hadron to pion ratios show enhancement with multiplicity

Abstract

We study string fragmentation in high multiplicity proton-proton collisions in a model where the string tension fluctuates. These fluctuations produce exponential pion spectra which are fitted to the transverse momentum distributions of charged particles for different multiplicities. For each multiplicity the so obtained hadronic slope parameter defines the magnitude of the string fluctuations which in turn determines the produced ratio of strange to light quarks. PYTHIA string decay simulations are used to convert each ratio of strange to light quarks to the appropriate ratio of strange hadrons to pions.