New insights into hadron production mechanism from $p_T$ spectra in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV

Abstract

We show that the experimental data of mid-rapidity $p_T$ spectra for proton, $\hat{I}›$, $\hat{I}ž$ , $\hat{I}{\text{c◯}}^{-}$, ${\text{K(892)}}^{\ast 0}$ and $\hat{I}ž(1530{)}^{\ast 0}$ in minimum-bias $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV can be systemically explained by the quark combination mechanism of hadronization. The averaged transverse momentum $⟨p_T⟩$ and spectra ratios such as $\hat{I}ž/\hat{I}›$ and $\hat{I}\text{c◯}/\ddot{I}•$ calculated from quark combination reproduce the data much better than those from traditional string and/or cluster fragmentation. The available data of hadronic $p_T$ spectra released by ALICE collaboration in the first three high-multiplicity classes of $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV are also well explained. We make predictions for other hadrons, and propose two scaling behaviors among decuplet baryons and vector mesons as the effective probe of hadron production mechanism at such high collision energy.

11 pages, 10 figures