A multiple-interaction model for the event structure in hadron collisions

Abstract

A detailed model for hadronic events is presented, with particular emphasis put on the event structure at low transverse momenta, i.e., ``beam jets'' and ``minijets.'' Specifically, we argue that hadronic events contain a varying number of semihard parton-parton interactions, with an average interaction rate given by perturbative QCD, and the variation between different events given by Poissonian statistics for each impact parameter separately. Comparisons with data are presented for a number of properties, such as multiplicity distributions, forward-backward correlations, minijet phenomenology, and the ``pedestal effect.'' Also, predictions for the behavior at higher energies are included.