The forward-backward multiplicity correlation strength is calculated for arbitrary nucleus-nucleus collision in the framework of the wounded nucleon model. Discussion of our results in the context of the recent STAR data in $\mathrm{Au}+\mathrm{Au}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV is presented. It is suggested that the observed (i) growth of the correlation coefficient with centrality and (ii) approximately flat pseudorapidity dependence of the correlation strength for central collisions are due to the fluctuations of the number of wounded nucleons at a given centrality bin.

• Received 18 February 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.80.024906