HBT correlations and charge ratios in multiple production of pions

Abstract

The influence of the HBT effect on the multiplicity distribution and charge ratios of independently produced pions is studied. It is shown that, for a wide class of models, there is a critical point, where the average number of pions becomes very large and the multiplicity distibution becomes very broad. In this regime unusual charge ratios ("centauros", "anticentauros") are strongly enhanced. The prospects for reaching this regime are discussed.