Charged-particle multiplicity distribution inpdinteractions at 300 GeV/c

Abstract

Charged-particle multiplicity distributions in 300-GeV/c $\mathrm{pd}$ interactions have been determined from an exposure of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory 30-in. bubble chamber. The data show clear evidence for double scattering inside the deuterium nucleus. We have been able to correct for the effects of the second scatters using a simple semiempirical model. The resulting $pp$ multiplicity distribution is in excellent agreement with the $pp$ data obtained from a $p-{\mathrm{H}}_2$ experiment at the same energy. The $pn$ multiplicity distribution appears to be shifted from the $pp$ distribution with ${〈n_c〉}_{\mathrm{pn}}=7.84\mathrm{}\pm 0.17$.