Long-range correlations between multiplicities in different rapidity windows in hadron-nucleus collisions are analyzed. After recalling the standard results in the probabilistic model, we study them in the framework of perturbative QCD. Considering interacting BFKL pomerons in the form of fan diagrams coupled to a dilute projectile, analytic estimates are done for very large rapidities. The correlation strength results weakly depending on energy and centrality or nuclear size and generically greater than unity. Finally, we turn to the color glass condensate framework. For a saturated projectile and considering the most feasible experimental situation of forward and backward rapidity windows symmetric around the center-of-mass, the resulting correlation strength turns out to be larger than unity and shows a nonmonotonic behavior with increasing energy, first increasing and then decreasing to a limiting value. Its behavior with increasing centrality or nuclear size depends on the considered rapidity windows.

• Received 22 February 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.75.054902