Physics from HBT radii

Abstract

An approximate formula connecting the true and the HBT homogeneity regions in multiparticle production processes is derived. It implies that when calculating the HBT radii one should use the ceter of mass systems of the pairs rather than the now popular LCMS system. A discussion of several examples clarifies the potential and limitations of the HBT method. The even cumulants of the X-distribution, inculding the HBT radii, can be determined for each homogeneity region, but the relative positions of the homogeneity regions are unconstrained. This makes the HBT radii of little use for calculating quantities dependent on the interparticle interactions in coordinate space.