In p-p collisions the average transverse momentum is known to be correlated with the multiplicity of produced particles. The correlation is shown to survive in a superposition model of nucleus-nucleus collisions. When properly parametrized, the correlation strength appears to be independent of the collision centrality—it is the same in p-p and central A-A collisions. However, the correlation is strongly suppressed by the centrality fluctuations.

• Received 14 February 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.73.044907