How to catch a ‘fat’ proton

Journal Article · Thu Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Annals of Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AOP.2014.07.040· OSTI ID:22447583

Coleman-Smith, Christopher ^[1]; Müller, Berndt ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0305 (United States)

We argue that high-multiplicity events in proton–proton or proton–nucleus collisions originate from large-size fluctuations of the nucleon shape. We discuss a pair of simple models of such proton shape fluctuations. A “fat” proton with a size of 3 fm occurs with observable frequency. In light of this result, collective flow behavior in the ensuing nuclear interaction seems feasible. We discuss the influence of these models on the parton structure of the proton.

• OSTI ID: 22447583
• Journal Information: Annals of Physics, Vol. 352; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-4916
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CROSS SECTIONS
FLUCTUATIONS
INTERACTIONS
PROTON-NUCLEON INTERACTIONS
PROTONS