Potential and limitations of the HBT method

The HBT method is used to get information about the sizes, shapes and sometimes also about the time evolution of the homogeneity regions in hadroproduction processes. Homogeneity region K is the region where the hadrons with momentum K are produced. The size and shape of he homogeneity region is described by the Wigner function W(K,X) evaluated in the interaction picture after all the hadrons had been produced. Additional information about the interaction region is contained in the emission functio S(K,X). A theorem is presented and discussed which specifies which of the parameters characterizing the Wigner functin can and which cannot be obtained using the HBT method. In order to obtain the complete Wigner fuction additional assumptions are needed. For instance, it is enough to know the distribution of the centers of the homogeneity regions <X>_K. In order to find the emission function further assumptions are required. No systematic analysis is available, but some instructive examples are discussed.

K. Zalewski · 2009