Transverse momentum parton distributions inspired by a quark potential model

Abstract

We derive a nonperturbative transverse momentum distribution for partons using a potential model to describe the quark-quark interaction inside the proton. We use this distribution to calculate the diferential cross-section of $\pi^0$-production for intermediate values of transverse momentum in $p-p$ collisions at high energies. Assuming a variable string tension constant for the quark-quark potential we obtain a very good description of the experimental data at different energies. The corresponding values of the mean transverse momentum of the partons are essentially lower than those obtained using a Gaussian transverse momentum parton distribution.