Strangeness as probe of quark-gluon plasma: Unconventional point of view
- Physics Department, Nuclear Particle Physics Division, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, GR-157 71 Athens (Greece)
We consider the production of strange particles in relativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions. We employ a quark-gluon plasma (QGP) formalism, incorporating the production of the (anti)quarks in the plasma during equilibration by the gluon field. We assume generally accepted [ital T]([mu][sub [ital q]]=0) and [mu][sub [ital q]]([ital T]=0) values to construct a phase curve, defining an approximate lower limit of the ideal QGP phase. We express the strange particle ratios as function of [mu][sub [ital q]] and [ital T] along this curve and predict quantitatively their minimum QGP values. We analyze the NA36 and WA85 CERN experiments and obtain the quarkchemical potentials, [mu][sub [ital q]], [mu][sub [ital s]] and the chemical equilibration, [gamma][sub [ital s]]. The gluon sector, providing the [bar q]'s, is necessary for the correct and consistent estimation of these quantities and prediction of all strange particle ratios. We put forward that the values of [ital T], [mu][sub [ital q]], [mu][sub [ital s]], and [gamma][sub [ital s]] are the only significant quantities determining a possible phase transition, not the magnitude of any strange particle ratio, as previously proclaimed. We find that the 200 GeV/nucleon [sup 32]S-induced interactions at midrapidity may have approached the ideal QGP phase to within about 60%.
- OSTI ID:
- 6545496
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review, C (Nuclear Physics); (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review, C (Nuclear Physics); (United States) Vol. 51:3; ISSN 0556-2813; ISSN PRVCAN
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
662230 -- Quantum Chromodynamics-- (1992-)
663300 -- Nuclear Reactions & Scattering
General-- (1992-)
663450* -- Heavy-Ion-Induced Reactions & Scattering-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
BOSONS
CHARGED-PARTICLE REACTIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY RANGE
GLUONS
HEAVY ION REACTIONS
MATTER
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
PARTICLE PRODUCTION
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PLASMA
POSTULATED PARTICLES
QUARK MATTER
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
STRANGE PARTICLES
SULFUR 32 REACTIONS