UC Irvine

The analogy between high-energy events with many particles in the final state and a distribution of particles in a fluid is examined in detail. It is shown that many theoretical models lend themselves to such an interpretation. Using experimental data on prong cross sections and one-particle inclusive distributions, some properties of this analogous fluid are computed. The possibility and significance of a "phase transition" are discussed and predictions based on such considerations are made for higher energies. © 1972 The American Physical Society.