Asymptotic multiplicity scaling: a renormalization group perspective

Abstract

A generalization of the Polyakov-Koba-Nielsen-Olesen scaling law of the multiplicity distributions P(n,s) is developed. It states that a suitable change in the normalization point of P(n,s) compensated by a rescaling can restore data collapsing onto a universal curve if the original scaling rule is violated. We show that the iteratively executed transformation of P(n,s) can be viewed as varying the collision energy. The e+e- and p-pbar multiplicity data at top energies are found to exhibit a fixed point property of the iteration.