A comparison of models for large transverse momentum meson production

The predictions of three hard scattering models of large-psub(T) meson production are compared with data on single-particle inclusive cross sections. The three models are: (i) the quark fusion model (QF): q + anti q → M + M; (ii) the constituent interchange model (CIM): q + M → M + q and (iii) a model with diquarks (DQ): q + q → M + qq. The motivation for these models is discussed. It is shown that each model by itself has serious difficulties with the single-particle inclusive data but that the fits are greatly improved by taking natural combinations of them: a mixture of DQ and QF and of CIM and QF. Throughout, the results are compared with those of the quark-quark elastic scattering model of Field and Feynman, which is shown to have some problems of its own. (Auth.)