ENERGY-DEPENDENCE OF PARAMETERS OF NEGATIVE-BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTIONS IN NN COLLISIONS

We have discussed the energy dependence of the parameters [n] and K of the negative-binomial distributions for the full phase-space charged-particle multiplicity distributions in pp/ppBAR collisions. It was shown that, under the assumption that multiparticle production is a stationary branching process, there exists a relation between the two parameters [n] and K. A similar relation can also be derived empirically, from information-theoretic entropy considerations. The energy dependence of one parameter then automatically determines the energy dependence of the other. It was then argued from entropy considerations that there should be an upper bound for [n] or conversely a lower bound for K as a function of energy. New parametrizations for the energy dependence of K were given, taking into account that K should have a lower bound, which together with the relation between the parameters [n] and K predicts that the average number of particles cannot be increased indefinitely with increasing c.m. system energy.