Two-body correlations in high-energy proton-proton interactions

A study of about 10/sup 5/ proton-proton interactions at square root s =52.5 GeV was performed by using the ISR Split Field Magnet. Correlations between particles pairs with like and unlike charges were studied in terms of six variables. The main conclusions are i) the difference in the azimuthal asymmetry parameter between unlike- and like-charge pairs shows up at invariant masses between 500 and 1200 Me V, i.e. in the region of the well-known resonances; ii) a supershort ( Delta y<or=0.5) correlation effect exists for unlike- as well as for like-charge pairs; iii) the azimuthal asymmetry parameter remains positive (back-to-back configurations are preferred) even for very large values of the rapidity variables, independent of the charge configurations. (17 refs).