Forward-Backward Multiplicity Correlations in e+e- Annihilation and pp Collisions and the Weighted Superposition Mechanism

Forward-backward multiplicity correlations in symmetric collisions are calculated independently of the detailed form of the corresponding multiplicity distribution. Applications of these calculations to e⁺e^- annihilation and {pbar p} collisions confirm the existence of the weighted superposition mechanism of different classes of substructures or components. When applied to {pbar p} collisions in particular, clan concept and its particle leakage from one hemisphere to the opposite one become of fundamental importance. The increase with c.m. energy of the corrrelation strength as well as the behaviour of the average number of backward particles vs. the number of forward particles are correctly reproduced.