Short-range correlations in hadron pair production at pT≧2 GeV/c

Production of oppositely charged particle pairs at large pT is studied, where both particles, are in the central rapidity region within one unit of rapidity and nearby in azimuth. The data sample, which comes from π- Be interactions obtained using the CERN OMEGA spectrometer, contains events with a pair of oppositely charged particles having pT≧2 GeV/c recoiling, against a third one with pT≧1 GeV/c. Our data provide new information on short range correlations involving the production of the nine possible pairs made from (π+, K+, p) and {Mathematical expression}. Comparison with Lund Monte Carlo predictions is made. Apart from proton yields, the model reproduces correctly our data. The main discrepancies observed with protons can be attributed to hard scattering of diquarks from the target nucleons. © 1992 Springer-Verlag