A multi-Regge model applied to high-energy quasi-inclusive photoproduction☆

Abstract We compare inclusive photoproduction data in the energy range E γ = 9.0−18.0 GeV to the multi-Regge model. The model incorporates vector-dominance coupling of the photon, the Chew-Pignotti algorithm for charge assignment, and correct treatment of n -body phase space. A technique of ordering the particles according to longitudinal momentum is used to enhance features of the data and provide a more sensitive test of the model. We compare the model to mass distributions, separation of particles in rapidity, longitudinal momentum distributions, topological cross-sections and charge orderings of secondaries. A reasonable description of the data is achieved, using parameters derived from pp and K + p experiments. Within this framework, it is found that the class of diagrams involving γ coupling to the ϱ are not adequate to describe all aspects of the data, and that other couplings are present to a significant degree.