Non-extensivity of hadronic systems

Abstract

The predictions from a non-extensive self-consistent theory recently proposed are investigated. Transverse momentum ($p_T$) distribution for several hadrons obtained in $p+p$ collisions are analyzed to verify if there are evidence for a limiting effective temperature and a limiting entropic factor. In addition, the hadron-mass spectrum proposed in that theory is confronted with available data. It turns out that all $p_T$-distributions and the mass spectrum obtained in the theory are in good agreement with experiment with constant effective temperature and constant entropic factor. The results confirm that the non-extensive statistics plays an important role in the description of the termodynamics of hadronic systems, and also that the self-consistent principle holds for energies as high as those achieved in the LHC. A discussion on the best $p_T$-distirbution formula for fitting experimental data is presented.