The rapidity-rank structure of pa pairs is used to analyze the mechanism
of baryon production in hadronic Z(0) decay. The relative occurrence of
the rapidity-ordered configuration p M p, where M is a meson, and that
of pp adjacent pairs is compared. The data are found to be consistent
with predictions from a mechanism producing adjacent-rank pp pairs,
without requiring ‘string-ordered’ p M p configurations. An upper limit
of 15% at 90% confidence is determined for the p M p contribution. (C)
2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved
