Average multiplicities and transverse momenta of hadrons are calculated using a microcanonical hadronization description for a cluster of given total energy and volume. As a function of the total energy, we determine the critical volume above which the microcanonical description coincides with the canonical one, and compare the results with those obtained using one of the standard canonical models. We show that the critical volume depends on the energy and the mass of the hadrons. For heavy particles, volumes above $50{\mathrm{fm}}^3$ are needed, even more than $100{\mathrm{fm}}^3$ if one considers transverse momenta. Thus the prediction of heavy hadron multiplicities in $pp,Kp,$ and $e^{+}{e}^{-}$ reactions requires a microcanonical approach, whereas for heavy-ion reactions a canonical calculation is valid. We conclude by showing the importance of the feeding for the observed hadron multiplicities.

• Received 1 May 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.68.024905