Systematics of stopping and flow in Au+ Au collisions

Excitation functions of flow and stopping observables for the Au+ Au system at energies from 40 to 1500MeV per nucleon are presented. The systematics were obtained by merging the results of the INDRA and FOPI experiments, both performed at the GSI facility. The connection to the nuclear equation of state is discussed.     

Directed flow of identified particles from Au+Au collisions at RHIC

We present the measurement of directed flow (v ₁) for the identified particles, namely, Λ, $ \bar \Lambda $ \bar \Lambda and K _s ⁰, as a function of rapidity and centrality in Au+Au collisions at $ \sqrt {s_{NN} } $ \sqrt {s_{NN} } = 200 GeV and 62.4 GeV. The measurement is based on the run IV data obtained by the STAR experiment at RHIC. In order to enhance event plane resolution, we use tracks reconstructed from the Forward Time Projection Chambers (FTPCs), together with the sideward deflection of spectator neutrons measured by the STAR’s Shower Maximum Detector at Zero Degree Calorimeters (ZDC-SMDs). We find that for 200 GeV, proton and antiproton v ₁ is less than 1%, the K _s ⁰ Λ, $ \bar \Lambda $ \bar \Lambda v ₁ is less than 2%; for 62 GeV, proton v ₁ is less than 1% and antiproton is less than 2%, v ₁ for K _s ⁰, Λ, $ \bar \Lambda $ \bar \Lambda is less than 2% in Au+Au collisions at 200 GeV.     

Sideward flow in Au+Au collisions between 2A and 8A GeV

Using the large acceptance Time Projection Chamber of experiment E895 at Brookhaven, measurements of collective sideward flow in Au+Au collisions at beam energies of 2A, 4A, 6A, and 8A GeV are presented in the form of in-plane transverse momentum and the first Fourier coefficient of azimuthal anisotropy v(1). These measurements indicate a smooth variation of sideward flow as a function of beam energy. The data are compared with four nuclear transport models which have an orientation towards this energy range. All four exhibit some qualitative trends similar to those found in the data, although none show a consistent pattern of agreement within experimental uncertainties.     

NeXSPheRIO results on elliptic flow and directed flow for Au+Au and Cu+Cu collisions at RHIC

Hydrodynamics has been rather successful at describing results obtained in relativistic nuclear collisions at RHIC. Here we show results obtained with NeXSPheRIO on Au+Au collisions and the less studied Cu+Cu collisions. We study elliptic flow and its connection with eccentricity suggested by PHOBOS, as well as present elliptic flow fluctuations. We also show results for directed flow and compare with PHOBOS and STAR data.     

Quarkonium production from d + Au to Au + Au collisions

The PHENIX experiment measured J/ production in pp, d + Au and Au + Au reactions at = 200 GeV over a wide range of rapidity and transverse momentum. The nuclear modification factor obtained by comparing the d + Au and pp cross sections as a function of rapidity, is consistent with shadowing of the gluon distribution functions. J/ production in Au + Au collisions was compared to the production in pp collisions and it was found to be inconsistent with models that predict strong enhancement relative to binary collision scaling. Arrival of the final proofs: 29 June 2005 PACS: 25.75-q, 25.75-Dw, ^* Deceased Spokesperson     

Space-momentum correlations in 8 AGeV Au+Au collisions

Within the RQMD model, space-momentum correlations, i.e. the correlations between final momentum anisotropy and initial eccentricity, are studied for 8 AGeV Au＋Au events classified according to the multi-particle azimuthal correlations. The results show that the final elliptic flow fluctuations depend on the initial collision geometry. There are clear space-momentum correlations for nucleons during the whole dynamical evolution of the collisions.     

Baryon rapidity loss in relativistic Au + Au collisions

An excitation function of proton rapidity distributions for different centralities is reported from AGS Experiment E917 for Au+Au collisions at 6, 8, and 10.8 GeV/nucleon. The rapidity distributions from peripheral collisions have a valley at midrapidity which smoothly change to distributions that display a broad peak at midrapidity for central collisions. The mean rapidity loss increases with increasing beam energy, whereas the fraction of protons consistent with isotropic emission from a stationary source at midrapidity decreases with increasing beam energy. The data suggest that the stopping is substantially less than complete at these energies.     

Time evolution of relativistic d + Au and Au + Au collisions

The evolution of charged‐particle production in collisions of heavy ions at relativistic energies is investigated as function of centrality in a nonequilibrium‐statistical framework. Precise agreement with recent d + Au and Au + Au data at = 200 GeV is found in a Relativistic Diffusion Model with three sources for particle production. Only the midrapidity source comes very close to local equilibrium, whereas the analyses of the overall pseudorapidity distributions show that the systems remain far from statistical equilibrium.     

Space-momentum correlations in 8 AGeV Au+Au collisions

Within the RQMD model, space-momentum correlations, i.e. the correlations between final momentum anisotropy and initial eccentricity, are studied for 8 AGeV Au+Au events classified according to the multi-particle azimuthal correlations. The results show that the final elliptic flow fluctuations depend on the initial collision geometry. There are clear space-momentum correlations for nucleons during the whole dynamical evolution of the collisions.     

Energy dependence of collective flow of neutrons and protons in197Au+197Au collisions

We investigate the beam energy dependence of neutron and proton squeeze-out in collisions of¹⁹⁷Au+¹⁹⁷Au atE/A=400—800 MeV. The azimuthal anisotropy that describes the enhanced emission of mid-rapidity neutrons perpendicular to the reaction plane rises strongly with the transverse momentum of the neutrons. This dependence of the azimuthal anisotropy follows a universal curve — independent of beam energy — if the neutron momenta are measured in fractions of the projectile momentum per mass unit. Analogously, the kinetic energy spectra of mid-rapidity neutrons exhibit a universal behaviour as a function of the kinetic energy of the projectile. The members of the FOPI-collaboration: J.P. Alard, Z. Basrak, N. Bastid, I.M. Belayev, M. Bini, R. Bock, A. Buta, R. aplar, C. Cerruti, N. Cindro, J.P. Coffin, M. Crouau, P. Dupieux, J. Erö, Z.G. Fan, P. Fintz, Z. Fodor, R. Freifelder, L. Fraysse, S. Frolov, A. Gobbi, Y. Grigorian, G. Guillaume, N. Herrmann, K.D. Hildenbrand, S. Hölbling, O. Houari, S.C. Jeong, M. Jorio, F. Jundt, J. Kecskemeti, P. Koncz, Y. Korchagin, R. Kotte, M. Krämer, C. Kuhn, I. Legrand, A. Lebedev, C. Maguire, V. Manko, T. Matulewicz, G. Mgebrishvili, J. Mösner, D. Moisa, G. Montarou, P. Morel, W. Neubert, A. Olmi, G. Pasquali, D. Pelte, M. Petrovici, G. Poggi, F. Rami, W. Reisdorf, A. Sadchikov, D. Schüll, Z. Seres, B. Sikora, V. Simion, S. Smolyankin, U. Sodan, N. Taccetti, K. Teh, R. Tezkratt, M. Trzaska, M.A. Vasiliev, P. Wagner, J.P. Wessels, T. Wienold, Z. Wilhelmi, D. Wohlfarth, A.V. Zhilin.     

Elliptic flow of identified hadrons in Au+Au collisions at sqrt sNN =200 GeV

The anisotropy parameter (v(2)), the second harmonic of the azimuthal particle distribution, has been measured with the PHENIX detector in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV for identified and inclusive charged particle production at central rapidities (|eta|<0.35) with respect to the reaction plane defined at high rapidities (|eta|=3-4 ). We observe that the v(2) of mesons falls below that of (anti)baryons for p(T)>2 GeV/c, in marked contrast to the predictions of a hydrodynamical model. A quark-coalescence model is also investigated.     

Elliptic flow of transported and produced protons in Au+Au collisions with the UrQMD model

Within the framework of the UrQMD model, by tracing the number of initial quarks in protons, we study the elliptic flow of protons with 3, 2, 1, 0 initial quarks and anti-protons in Au+Au collisions at SNN~(1/2)= 7.7, 11.5, 39,200 GeV. The difference of elliptic flow between protons with 2, 1, 0 initial quarks and anti-protons is smaller than 0,or consistent with 0, respectively. The difference of elliptic flow between transported protons(with 3 initial quarks)and anti-protons is larger than 0 at 7.7, 11.5 and 39 GeV. This is in good agreement with the STAR results at 7.7 and 11.5 GeV, but overestimates the STAR results at 39 GeV. The yield of transported protons with 3 initial quarks is smaller than of protons with 2 and 1 initial quarks, and v_2 of all protons is much smaller than the STAR results. The observation of the v_2 difference of elliptic flow between transported protons and anti-protons in the UrQMD model partly explains the difference between protons and anti-protons observed in the Beam Energy Scan program at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider(RHIC).     

Charged-particle pseudorapidity distributions in Au+Au collisions at RHIC

Using the Glauber model, we present the formulas for calculating the numbers of participants,spectators and binary nucleon-nucleon collisions. Based on this work, we get the pseudorapidity distributions of charged particles as the function of the impact parameter in nucleus-nucleus collisions. The theoretical results agree well with the experimental observations made by the BRAHMS Collaboration in Au+Au collisions at √SNN=200 GeV in different centrality bins over the whole pseudorapidity range.     

Charged-particle pseudorapidity distributions in Au+Au collisions at RHIC

Using the Glauber model, we present the formulas for calculating the numbers of participants, spectators and binary nucleon-nucleon collisions. Based on this work, we get the pseudorapidity distributions of charged particles as the function of the impact parameter in nucleus-nucleus collisions. The theoretical results agree well with the experimental observations made by the BRAHMS Collaboration in Au＋Au collisions at √^SNN=200 GeV in different centrality bins over the whole pseudorapidity range.     

Onset of nuclear matter expansion in Au+Au collisions

Using the FOPI detector at GSI Darmstadt, excitation functions of collective flow components were measured for the Au+Au system, in the reaction plane and out of this plane, at seven incident energies ranging from 100A MeV to 800A MeV. The threshold energies, corresponding to the onset of sideward-flow (balance energy) and squeeze-out effect (transition energy), are extracted from extrapolations of these excitation functions toward lower beam energies for charged products with Z ⩾ 2. The transition energy is found to be larger than the balance energy. The impact parameter dependence of both balance and transition energies, when extrapolated to central collisions, suggests comparable although slightly higher values than the threshold energy for the radial flow. The relevant parameter seems to be the energy deposited into the system in order to overcome the attractive nuclear forces.