Dariusz Prorok

Semi-rigorous statistical inference: fitting multiplicities in Au-Au collisions at sqrt{s_{NN}} = 62.4 and 200 GeV

In the first introductory part I will explain what the value of the so-called chi-squared function at the minimum means really. Additionally, I will give reasons why the commonly accepted condition for "a good fit" is that this value should be roughly equal to the number of degrees of freedom. Then I will show that carefree application of this criterion could lead to confused inference. To this end the detailed analysis of the fits to charged particle multiplicity distributions measured by the PHENIX Collaboration in Au-Au collisions at sqrt{s_{NN}}=62.4 and 200 GeV will be presented.