Collective flow in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

A brief introduction is given to the field of collective flow, currently being investigated experimentally at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider, Brookhaven National Laboratory. It is followed by an outline of the work that I have been doing in this field, in collaboration with Nicolas Borghini and Jean-Yves Ollitrault.     

Hadron production and phase changes in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

We study soft hadron production in relativistic heavy-ion collisions in a wide range of reaction energy, 4.8 GeV < < 200 GeV, and make predictions about yields of particles using the statistical hadronization model. In fits to experimental data, we obtain both the statistical parameters as well as physical properties of the hadron source. We identify the properties of the fireball at the critical energy threshold, 6.26 GeV < < 7.61 GeV, marking for higher energies the hadronization of an entropy-rich phase. In terms of the chemical composition, one sees a phase which at low energy is chemically under-saturated, and which turns into a chemically over-saturated state persisting up to the maximum accessible energy. Assuming that there is no change in physical mechanisms in the energy range 15 > ≥200 GeV, we use continuity of particle yields and statistical parameters to predict the hadron production at = 62.4 GeV, and obtain total yields of hadrons at = 130 GeV. We consider, in depth, the pattern we uncover within the hadronization condition, and discuss possible mechanisms associated with the identified rapid change in system properties at . We propose that the chemically over-saturated 2 + 1 flavor hadron matter system undergoes a 1st-order phase transition.     

In-plane elliptic flow of resonance particles in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

We analyze the second Fourier coefficient v(2) of the pion azimuthal distribution in noncentral heavy-ion collisions in a relativistic hydrodynamic model. The exact treatment of the decay kinematics of resonances leads to almost vanishing azimuthal anisotropy of pions near the midrapidity, while the matter elliptic flow is in plane at freeze-out. In addition, we reproduce the rapidity dependence of v(2) for pions measured in noncentral Pb+Pb collisions at 158A GeV. This suggests that resonance particles as well as stable particles constitute the in-plane flow and are important ingredients for the understanding of the observed pion flow.     

Primary and secondary transverse flow productions in relativistic hadronic and heavy-ion collisions

The collective flow production, especially the creation of the well measurable transverse flow can be connected to the microscopical partonic interactions and the space time evolution of the parton gas. We investigate the microscopical and the macroscopical aspects of the primary and the secondary transverse flow production at RHIC and LHC energies.     

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.     

Status of chemical equilibrium in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

Recent work on chemical equilibrium in heavy-ion collisions is reviewed. The energy dependence of thermal parameters is discussed. The centrality dependence of thermal parameters at SPS energies is presented.     

Volume emission of pions in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

We consider the possibility of volume emission of pions by the Δ(1232) decay in a hot compressed projectile-target residue. We calculate the momentum distribution of the pions created by the two-body Δ(1232) decay. Reabsorption is taken into account assuming a quasi-deuteron model. We argue that low-energy pions created deep inside the hot zone are likely to escape and contribute to the pion inclusive spectrum.     

A particle-hole calculation for pion production in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

A differential cross section for π-meson production in peripheral heavy-ion collisions is formulated within the context of a particle-hole model in the Tamm-Dancoff approximation. This is the first attempt at a fully quantum-mechanical particle-hole calculation for pion production in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. The particular reaction studied is an ¹⁶O projectile colliding with a ¹²C target at rest. In the projectile we form a linear combination of isobar-hole states, with the possibility of a coherent isobar giant resonance. The target can be excited to its giant M1 resonance (J^π = 1⁺, T = 1) at 15.11 MeV, or to its isobar analog neighbours, ¹²B at 13.4 MeV and ¹²N at 17.5 MeV. The theory is compared to recent experimental results.     

Mass spectrum of the dimuons produced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

The mass spectrum of dimuons produced from the matter in the central region of rapidity in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions is calculated in accordance with Bjorken’s recently proposed model for relativistic heavy-ion collisions. The matter in this central region is assumed to consist of a deconfined quark-gluon plasma phase and a pionized phase. Distinct enhancements of the dimuon mass spectrum below 500 MeV, due to the quark-gluon phase, are predicted for a deconfinement phase-transition temperatureT _c<200 MeV.     

Characteristics of charged particle production in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

Inclusive spectra of charged particles at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt {s_{NN} } = 130$ GeV and 200 GeV were measured with the STAR detector at RHIC. The measured mean transverse momentum 〈p _T 〉 shows a characteristic dependence on charged particle multiplicity and beam energy in Au+Au collisions that is distinctly different from pp, $p\bar p$ and e⁺e^? collisions. A 32%±3%(syst) increase in 〈p _T 〉 from pp to Au+Au collisions was observed at 200 GeV. While the charged multiplicity was found to increase by 19%±5%(syst) from $\sqrt {s_{NN} } = 130$ GeV to 200 GeV, no significant difference in 〈p _T 〉 was found between the two energies. A comparison with model predictions is discussed.     

Formation of disoriented chiral condensates in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

We present a brief review of the subject of disoriented chiral condensates (DCC). We describe the conventional scenarios for the formation of DCC which have been proposed in the literature. Observable signals, such as fluctuations in neutral to charged pion ratio, are discussed. We then discuss a novel scenario for DCC formation, recently proposed by us, where the entire region of hot partons can get converted into a single large DCC. Our arguments suggest that formation of such large DCC is unlikely in the collision of heavy nuclei, and ultra-high energy hadronic collisions may be better suited for this.     

Evolution of baryon-free matter produced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

A three-fluid hydrodynamic model is introduced for simulating heavy-ion collisions at incident energies between a few and about 200 A GeV. In addition to the two baryon-rich fluids of two-fluid models, a new model incorporates a third, baryon-free (i.e., with zero net baryonic charge), fluid, which is created in the midrapidity region. Its evolution is delayed due to a formation time τ, during which the baryon-free fluid neither thermalizes nor interacts with the baryon-rich fluids. After formation, it thermalizes and starts to interact with the baryon-rich fluids. It is found that, for τ=0, the interaction strongly affects the baryon-free fluid. However, at reasonable finite formation time, τ ? 1 fm/c, the effect of this interaction turns out to be substantially reduced, although still noticeable. Baryonic observables are only slightly affected by the interaction with the baryon-free fluid.