Symmetric hadron pairs at large transverse momenta as a test of hard scattering models

The inclusive cross section of hadron pairs produced back-to-back with large transverse momenta is examined in the parton model. It is shown quantitatively that this cross section is determined directly by the hard scattering subprocesses, without being influenced by the internal momentum of the constituents, even for transverse momenta of the order of 2–3 GeV/c. The predictions of the phenomenological quark-quark scattering model and of the quantum chromodynamics model for the back-to-back cross section are compared with recent Fermi-lab data. Predictions are made for the corresponding cross section at ISR-energies.