Multiple-Collision Model for Pion Production in Relativistic Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions

Abstract

A simple model for pion production in relativistic heavy-ion collisions is developed based on nucleon-nucleon data, nuclear density distribution, and the assumption of straight-line trajectories. Multiplicity distributions for total pion production and for negative-pion production are predicted for ${}_{}{}^{40}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ar}$ incident on a ${\mathrm{Pb}}_3$ ${\mathrm{O}}_4$ target at 1.8 GeV/nucleon. Production through intermediate baryon resonances reduces the high-multiplicity region but insufficiently to yield agreement with data. This implies the need for a coherent production mechanism.