Charged-particle multiplicity measurement in proton–proton collisions at and 2.36 TeV with ALICE at LHC

Charged-particle production was studied in proton–proton collisions collected at the LHC with the ALICE detector at centre-of-mass energies 0.9 TeV and 2.36 TeV in the pseudorapidity range |η|<1.4. In the central region (|η|<0.5), at 0.9 TeV, we measure charged-particle pseudorapidity density $$\mathrm{d}N_{\mathrm{ch}}/\mathrm{d}\eta=3.02\pm 0.01(\mathit{stat.})^{+0.08}_{-0.05}(\mathit{syst.})$$ for inelastic interactions, and $$\mathrm{d}N_{\mathrm{ch}}/\mathrm{d}\eta=3.58\pm0.01(\mathit{stat.})^{+0.12}_{-0.12}(\mathit{syst.})$$ for non-single-diffractive interactions. At 2.36 TeV, we find $$\mathrm{d}N_{\mathrm{ch}}/\mathrm{d}\eta=3.77\pm0.01(\mathit{stat.})^{+0.25}_{-0.12}(\mathit{syst.})$$ for inelastic, and $$\mathrm{d}N_{\mathrm{ch}}/\mathrm{d}\eta=4.43\pm0.01(\mathit{stat.})^{+0.17}_{-0.12}(\mathit{syst.})$$ for non-single-diffractive collisions. The relative increase in charged-particle multiplicity from the lower to higher energy is $$24.7\%\pm0.5\%(\mathit{stat.})^{+5.7}_{-2.8}\%(\mathit{syst.})$$ for inelastic and $$23.7\%\pm0.5\%(\mathit{stat.})^{+4.6}_{-1.1}\%(\mathit{syst.})$$ for non-single-diffractive interactions. This increase is consistent with that reported by the CMS collaboration for non-single-diffractive events and larger than that found by a number of commonly used models. The multiplicity distribution was measured in different pseudorapidity intervals and studied in terms of KNO variables at both energies. The results are compared to proton–antiproton data and to model predictions.