Multiplicity structure of inclusive diffraction in π+p and K+p interactions at 250 GeV/c

Results on the multiplicity structure of diffractively excited meson and proton systems in π+/K+p interactions at 250 GeV/c are presented for diffractive masses up to about 9 GeV/c. The energy dependence of the average charge multiplicity and the shape of the multiplicity distribution in terms of KNO-scaling and negative binomial distribution are investigated. The diffractive systems are compared to e+e-, lh and non-diffractive hh final states as suggested by modern approaches of the Pomeron-hadron collision. Systematic differences are found between diffractive meson and proton systems but also between diffraction and the reactions compared to. (orig.)