Scale-violating quark model for large-pTprocesses. Single-hadron inclusive reactions

Abstract

A model of quark-parton distributions with a number of features dictated by asymptotically free field theories (AFFT) is presented. It leads to a logarithmic pattern of scale violations which, although not exactly the same, is close to that of AFFT and accounts for recent data on lepton-nucleon inelastic structure functions. The model, together with the basic Berman-Bjorken-Kogut mechanism, accounts fairly well for large-transverse-momentum ($p_T$) data on single-hadron production in proton-proton collisions. At least in order of magnitude, the essential large-$p_T$ production parameters can be determined via AFFT considerations and lepton-nucleon deep-inelastic data; there is some difficulty, however, in understanding the magnitude of baryon production. Simple explanations of the $p_t$ dependence of the data on inclusive-cross-section ratios for charged-hadron production are also given.