Predictions from a simple hadron rescattering model for pp collisions at the LHC

Abstract

With studies of heavy ion and pp physics already under way at the LHC, it is necessary to consider how hadronic rescattering will affect the observed results from experiments. Through the use of a simple relativistic kinematics-based hadron rescattering model we show that the hadron rescattering phase can obscure some signals for radial flow in pp collisions at LHC energies. It is shown that the hadron rescattering model does not distort pseudorapidity distributions for pp collisions at , 7, 10 and 14 TeV, but does effect two-boson Hanbury–Brown Twiss (HBT) observables. We also compare HBT results from the model with recent measurements of ππ HBT in 0.9 TeV pp collisions. We show that there is very good agreement between the rescattering model and experiment in terms of multiplicity dependence of 1D HBT radii. There is also considerable agreement between the two on the kT dependence of 1D HBT radii. Predictions are also made for 1D and 3D identical pion and kaon correlation functions from pp collisions using the rescattering model for , 7, 10 and 14 TeV. These correlation functions are binned by multiplicity and kT, both separately and together. Fits to these correlation functions indicate that any kT signal of radial flow in pp collisions would be largely obscured by rescattering in the post-hadronization phase.