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Baryon distribution in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev. D; (United States)

In order to determine whether a pure quark-gluon plasma with no net baryon density can be formed in the central rapidity region in relativistic heavy-ion collisions, we estimate the baryon distribution by using a Glauber-type multiple-collision model in which the nucleons of one nucleus degrade in energy as they make collisions with nucleons in the other nucleus. As a test of this model, we study first nucleon-nucleus collisions at 100 GeV/c and compare the theoretical results with the experimental data of Barton et al. The results are then generalized to study the baryon distribution in nucleus-nucleus collisions. It is found that in the head-on collision of two heavy nuclei (A> or approx. =100), the baryon rapidity distributions have broad peaks and extend well into the central rapidity region. The energy density of the baryon in the central rapidity region is about 5--6 % of the total energy density at a center-of-mass energy of 30 GeV per nucleon and decreases to about 2--3 % at a center-of-mass energy of 100 GeV per nucleon. The stopping power for a baryon in nuclear matter is extracted.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830
OSTI ID:
6349719
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev. D; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. D; (United States) Vol. 30:5; ISSN PRVDA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English