Multiplicity dependence of inclusive pt spectra from p-p collisions at Vs=200 GeV

Abstract

We report measurements of transverse momentum pt spectra for ten event multiplicity classes of p-p collisions at √s=200 GeV. By analyzing the multiplicity dependence we find that the spectrum shape can be decomposed into a part with amplitude proportional to multiplicity and described by a Lévy distribution on transverse mass mt, and a part with amplitude proportional to multiplicity squared and described by a Gaussian distribution on transverse rapidity yt. The functional forms of the two parts are nearly independent of event multiplicity. The two parts can be identified with the soft and hard components of a two-component model of p-p collisions. This analysis then provides the first isolation of the hard component of the pt spectrum as a distribution of simple form on yt.