High-energy production of hadrons on nuclear targets and the nature of the pomeron

The nested eikonal model for multiple exchanges of pomeron ladders, which are assumed to have high average transverse momentum except near their ends, give a phenomenologically reasonable description of multiparticle production by energetic hadron beams on nuclear targets. Testable predictions are made of the large rapidity spectrum of final state particles. The consequences of this assumption about the nature of the pomeron for hadron-hadron scattering are also discussed and found to be encouraging. (Auth.)