Antinucleon production and its relation to the rise in the proton-proton total cross section

Arguments suggesting that the rise in the pp total cross section is due to antinucleon production are reviewed and questioned. While this hypothesis cannot be ruled out, the important coupling between the N N̄ channel and meson channels complicates the dynamical picture. We consider multiperipheral cluster models generally, but include some of the effects of unitarity by discussing final-state interactions. We conclude that, either multiperipheral cluster models for N N̄ production are inapplicable or, within the context of such models, N N̄ production alters the production of other particles. These facts render previous model calculations of dubious applicability.