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Title: Nonmonotonic Energy Dependence of Net-Proton Number Fluctuations

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters
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Nonmonotonic variation with collision energy (√sNN) of the moments of the net-baryon number distribution in heavy-ion collisions, related to the correlation length and the susceptibilities of the system, is suggested as a signature for the quantum chromodynamics critical point. Here, we report the first evidence of a nonmonotonic variation in the kurtosis times variance of the net-proton number (proxy for net-baryon number) distribution as a function of √sNN with 3.1 σ significance for head-on (central) gold-on-gold (Au+Au) collisions measured solenoidal tracker at Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Data in noncentral Au+Au collisions and models of heavy-ion collisions without a critical point show a monotonic variation as a function of √sNN.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP)
Contributing Organization:
STAR Collaboration
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231; SC0012704
OSTI ID:
1769048
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1763308; OSTI ID: 1861487
Report Number(s):
BNL-220935-2021-JAAM; TRN: US2206699
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters, Vol. 126, Issue 9; ISSN 0031-9007
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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