Relativistic diffusion model

Evidence is presented that diffusion drives colliding many-particle systems at relativistic energies from the initial δ–functions in rapidity towards the equilibrium distribution. Analytical solutions of a linear Fokker-Planck equation represent rapidity spectra for participant protons in central heavy-ion collisions at SPS-energies accurately. Thermal equilibrium in the interaction region is not attained, nonequilibrium features persist and can account for the broad rapidity spectra. Received: 24 November 1998 / Revised version: 20 February 1999