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Title: Pseudorapidity distributions and correlations in central sup 16 O interactions at 200 A GeV

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5019962

Whether or not adequate energy densities for a transition to the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP) phase are possible in {sup 16}O and {sup 32}S induced reactions is still an open question. Before unambiguous signals can be identified it is necessary to understand the background upon which the expected QGP signatures can be sought. An important aim of early experiments in this new energy density regime is thus to understand the process of hadronization in a nuclear environment. In any discussion of high energy nucleus-nucleus collisions formation time is an important feature. If, for example, the final state particles are produced instantaneously in a bound hadron-nucleon collision, all these particles will have a chance to reinteract inside the nuclear medium. If, on the other hand, the formation time is long, i.e., longer than the nuclear diameter, the energy flux will stay together as a unit throughout its passage through the target nucleus. While these extreme cases are clearly unrealistic, one expects interaction parameters such as the multiplicity and pseudorapidity distributions to be sensitive functions of the formation time. Here we present results on charged hadron production in an experiment using tracking detectors with the highest possible spatial resolution: emulsion chambers. A sample of the most central collisions will be compared to the predictions of the Lund Model, which does an accurate job of representing conventional physics in nuclear collisions. We can use the high resolution of our detectors to examine spatial correlations in several ways. In particular, the radial size of the particle formation region can be estimated using pion interferometry techniques. 12 refs., 3 figs.

Research Organization:
Washington Univ., Seattle, WA (USA). Visual Techniques Lab.
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/ER
DOE Contract Number:
AS06-88ER40423
OSTI ID:
5019962
Report Number(s):
CONF-8805142-50; VTL-PUB-122; ON: DE90006005; TRN: 90-005042
Resource Relation:
Conference: 3. international conference on the interactions between particle and nuclear physics, Rockport, ME (USA), 14-19 May 1988
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English