D-meson production from 400 GeV/c p-p interactions evidence for leading di-quarks?

Abstract Results of fitting the differential distributions in x F and p T 2 of D mesons produced in 400 GeV/ c p-p interactions to the form d 2 σ d x F d p T 2 ∝(1−x F ) n exp [−(p T 2 /〈p T 2 〉)] are discussed. The D + distribution is found to be relatively hard [ n =3.1±0.8〈 P t 2 〉=1.32±0.27 (GeV/ c ) 2 ] and the D 0 distribution relatively soft [ n =8.1±1.9,〈 p T 2 〉=0.62±0.14 (GeV/ c ) 2 ] compared to the average for all D's [ n =4.9±0.5,〈 p T 2 〉=0.99±0.10 (GeV/ c ) 2 ]. It is suggested that these distributions could reflect contribution of leading di-quarks in pp collisions. Comparison is made with evidence for leading quarks in charm production in 360 GeV/ cπ − p interactions.