Probing meson spectral functions with double differential dilepton spectra in heavy-ion collisions

The double differential dilepton spectrum d/(d ² d _⊥ ²) at fixed transverse mass M _⊥ allows a direct access to the vector meson spectral functions. Within a fireball model the sensitivity of d/(d ² d _⊥ ²) against variations of both the in-medium properties of mesons and the dynamics of the fireball is investigated. In contrast to the integrated invariant-mass spectrum d/d ², in the spectrum d/(d ² d _⊥ ²) with fixed M _⊥ the ω signal is clearly seen as bump riding on the ρ background even in case of strong in-medium modifications.[3mm] Received: 16 November 2000 / Accepted: 16 January 2001     

Transverse-momentum spectra of hadrons produced in central heavy-ion collisions

In-medium effects of transverse-mass distributions of quarks and gluons are considered assuming a possible local equilibrium for colorless quark objects like mesons and baryons created in central AA collisions. It is shown that the average square of the transverse momentum for these partons grows and then saturates when the initial energy increases. Within the quark-gluon string model, it leads to an energy dependence of hadron transverse-mass spectra which is similar to that observed in heavy-ion collisions. A comparison with other scenarios is given. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

(1 + 1) dimensional hydrodynamics for high-energy heavy-ion collisions

A (1 + 1)-dimensional hydrodynamical model in the light-cone coordinates is used to describe central heavy-ion collisions at ultrarelativistic bombarding energies. Deviations from Bjorken scaling are taken into account by choosing finite-size profiles for the initial energy density. The sensitivity of fluid-dynamical evolution to the equation of state and the parameters of initial state are investigated. Experimental constraints on the total energy of produced particles are used to reduce the number of model parameters. Spectra of secondary particles are calculated under the assumption that the transition from the hydrodynamical stage to the collisionless expansion of matter occurs at a certain freeze-out temperature. An important role of resonances in the formation of observed hadronic spectra is demonstrated. The calculated rapidity distributions of pions, kaons, and antiprotons in central Au + Au collisions at √^s NN = 200 GeV are compared with experimental data of the BRAHMS Collaboration. Parameters of the initial state are reconstructed for different choices of the equation of state. The best fit of these data is obtained for a soft equation of state and Gaussian-like initial profiles of the energy density, intermediate between the Landau and Bjorken limits. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Classical many-body model for heavy-ion collisions (II)

A four-parameter classical many-body model, specifically designed for heavy-ion collisions, is presented. Binding energies and densities of infinite and finite nuclei (N = Z) are satisfactorily reproduced. So also is the viscosity moment of the two-body scattering cross section at lab energies between 100 and 300 MeV.     

Two-proton small-angle correlations in central heavy-ion collisions: A beam-energy- and system-size-dependent study

Small-angle correlations of pairs of protons emitted in central collisions of Ca + Ca, Ru + Ru and Au + Au at beam energies from 400 to 1500MeV per nucleon are investigated with the FOPI detector system at SIS/GSI Darmstadt. Dependences on system size and beam energy are presented which extend the experimental data basis of pp correlations in the SIS energy range substantially. The size of the proton-emitting source is estimated by comparing the experimental data with the output of a final-state interaction model which utilizes either static Gaussian sources or the one-body phase-space distribution of protons provided by the BUU transport approach. The trends in the experimental data, i.e. system size and beam energy dependences, are well reproduced by this hybrid model. However, the pp correlation function is found rather insensitive to the stiffness of the equation of state entering the transport model calculations.     

Time structure and atomic excltation spectra in heavy-ion collisions with nuclear contact

From a quantum mechanical model for quasielastic nuclear scattering, employing a pocket in the internuclear potential at close distances, a distribution of nuclear delay times is derived. The influence of this time structure on atomic excitation spectra is demonstrated using positron emission from supercritical collisions as an example. In a narrow regime of beam energies close to the Coulomb barrier, a considerable probability for collisions with long nuclear delay times is found, associated with a sharp peak in the positron spectrum which is due to enhanced spontaneous positron production. It is pointed out that quasielastic nuclear scattering alone cannot account for the absolute numbers of spontaneous positrons as extracted from recent experiments. A possible generalization of the theory to include inelastic nuclear processes is briefly discussed.     

Hydrodynamic models for heavy-ion collisions and beyond

A generic property of a first-order phase transition in equilibrium, and in the limit of large entropy per unit of conserved charge, is the smallness of the isentropic speed of sound in the “mixed phase”. A specific prediction is that this should lead to a non-isotropic momentum distribution of nucleons in the reaction plane (for energies ≈ 40 A GeV in our model calculation). On the other hand, we show that from present effective theories for low-energy QCD one does not expect the thermal transition rate between various states of the effective potential to be much larger than the expansion rate, questioning the applicability of the idealized Maxwell/Gibbs construction. Experimental data could soon provide essential information on the dynamics of the phase transition.     

Search for collective transverse flow using particle transverse momentum spectra in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

The particle transverse momentum spectra recently measured in relativistic heavy-ion collisions at CERN and BNL are analysed within an expanding fireball model. All the particle spectra at a given beam energy can be reproduced simultaneously with a single set of intensive parameters for the initial state of the fireball. As typical freeze-out parameters in this beam energy region we find a freeze-out temperatureT _f?110 MeV for most hadrons, and an average transverse expansion velocity at freeze-out of 〈v/c〉?0.4–0.45. The striking enhancement at transverse momentap _T<200 MeV/c in the CERN pion data cannot be fully explained by the existence of transverse flow.     

HERACLES : a multidetector for heavy-ion collisions at TRIUMF

HERACLES is a multidetector that has been modified to study heavy-ion collisions, using an ion beam with an energy range between 8 to 15 MeV per nucleon. It has 78 detectors axially distributed around the beam axis in 6 rings allowing detection of multiple charged fragments from nuclear reactions. HERACLES has 4 different types of detectors, BC408/BaF₂ phoswich, Si/CsI(Tl) telescope, BC408/BC444 phoswich and CsI(Tl) detectors. ²⁵ Na?+?¹² C, ²⁵ Na?+?²⁷ Al, ²⁵ Mg?+?¹² C and ²⁵ Mg?+?²⁷ Al reactions have been used to characterize the multidetector. Element identification up to Z = 12 is achieved with the BC408/BaF₂ phoswich detectors, up to Z = 15 with the Si/CsI(Tl) telescopes and up to Z = 12 with the BC408/BC444 phoswich detectors. Isotopic identification is reached with the CsI(Tl) detector up to Z = 2.     

The time projection chamber for heavy-ion collisions: Trends and perspectives

The very large charged-particle multiplicities expected in a high-energy nucleon-nucleon collision, together with the wide range of energy loss by ionization, makes the conception of a tracking detector extremely challenging. One device, the time projection chamber, widely used in particle-physics experimentation, seems very promising in this context. In the present paper, after a brief summary of the operating principles and of the performances achieved in the existing detectors, I will discuss in more detail the expected performances in a high-multiplicity environment, as well as the recognized problems arising from the large charge densities detected. Some alternative devices that might overcome the recognized limitations of the standard design will also be described.     

Leptonic and charged kaon decay modes of the phi meson measured in heavy-ion collisions at the CERN super proton synchrotron

We report on results of a measurement of meson production in central Pb-Au collisions at E(lab) = 158A GeV. For the first time in the history of high energy heavy-ion collisions, phi mesons were reconstructed both in the K+K- and the dilepton decay channels in the same experiment. This measurement yields rapidity densities near midrapidity, from the two decay channels, of 2.05 +/- 0.14(stat) +/- 0.25(syst) and 2.04 +/- 0.49(stat) +/- 0.32(syst), respectively. The shape of the measured transverse momentum spectrum is also in close agreement in both decay channels. The data rule out a possible enhancement of the phi yield in the leptonic over the hadronic decay channel of a factor 1.6 or larger at the 95% C.L. This rules out the discrepancy reported in the literature between measurements of the hadronic and dimuon decay channels by two different experiments.     

Identification of baryon resonances in central heavy-ion collisions at energies between 1 and 2 AGeV

The mass distributions of baryon resonances populated in near-central collisions of Au on Au and Ni on Ni are deduced by defolding the p_t spectra of charged pions by a method which does not depend on a specific resonance shape. In addition the mass distributions of resonances are obtained from the invariant masses of (p, π^±) pairs. With both methods the deduced mass distributions are shifted by an average value of −60 MeV/c² relative to the mass distribution of the free Δ(1232) resonance, the distributions descent almost exponentially towards mass values of 2000 MeV/c². The observed differences between (p, π⁻) and (p, π⁺) pairs indicate a contribution of isospin I = 1/2 resonances. The attempt to consistently describe the deduced mass distributions and the reconstructed kinetic energy spectra of the resonances leads to new insights about the freeze out conditions, i.e. to rather low temperatures and large expansion velocities. Received: 26 June 1998 / Revised version: 2 September 1998     

Hadronization in heavy-ion collisions: recombination and fragmentation of partons

We argue that the emission of hadrons with transverse momentum up to about 5 GeV/c in central relativistic heavy ion collisions is dominated by recombination, rather than fragmentation of partons. This mechanism provides a natural explanation for the observed constant baryon-to-meson ratio of about one and the apparent lack of a nuclear suppression of the baryon yield in this momentum range. Fragmentation becomes dominant at higher transverse momentum, but the transition point is delayed by the energy loss of fast partons in dense matter.     

Comparisons of statistical multifragmentation and evaporation models for heavy-ion collisions

The results from ten statistical multifragmentation models have been compared with each other using selected experimental observables. Even though details in any single observable may differ, the general trends among models are similar. Thus, these models and similar ones are very good in providing important physics insights especially for general properties of the primary fragments and the multifragmentation process. Mean values and ratios of observables are also less sensitive to individual differences in the models. In addition to multifragmentation models, we have compared results from five commonly used evaporation codes. The fluctuations in isotope yield ratios are found to be a good indicator to evaluate the sequential decay implementation in the code. The systems and the observables studied here can be used as benchmarks for the development of statistical multifragmentation models and evaporation codes. An erratum to this article is available at .