We show that centrality dependence of charged particle pseudorapidity density at midrapidity in $\mathrm{Au}+\mathrm{Au}$ collisions at the RHIC is well described as proportional to the number of participating constituent quarks. In this approach there is no need for an additional contribution from hard processes usually considered in the models based on the number of the nucleon participants.

• Received 18 March 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.67.064905