Multiplicity distribution and mechanisms of the high-energy hadron collisions

We discuss the multiplicity distribution for the highest accessible energies of pp and p̄p interactions from the point of view of multiparton collisions. The inelastic cross sections for single σ₁ and multiple (double and, presumably, triple) σ₂ parton collisions are calculated from the analysis of experimental data on the multiplicity distribution up to Fermilab Tevatron energies. It is found that σ₁ becomes energy independent while σ₂ increases with √s for √s>~200 GeV. The observed growth of 〈p_⊥〉 with multiplicity is attributed to the increasing role of multiparton collisions for the high-energy p̄p(pp)-inelastic interactions. σ₂₊₃ reproduces quite well the cross section for minijet production.