ISSN:
1434-601X
Keywords:
PACS. 25.75.-q Relativistic heavy-ion collisions – 25.75.Ld Collective flow – 12.38.Mh Quark-gluon plasma
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
Abstract: We investigate the excitation function of quark-gluon plasma formation and of directed in-plane flow of nucleons in the energy range of the BNL-AGS and for the E kin Lab = 40A GeV Pb + Pb collisions performed recently at the CERN-SPS. We employ the three-fluid model with dynamical unification of kinetically equilibrated fluid elements. Within our model with first-order phase transition at high density, droplets of QGP coexisting with hadronic matter are produced already at BNL-AGS energies, E kin Lab≃ 10A GeV. A substantial decrease of the isentropic velocity of sound, however, requires higher energies, E kin Lab≃ 40A GeV. We show the effect on the flow of nucleons in the reaction plane. According to our model calculations, kinematic requirements and EoS effects work hand-in-hand at E kin Lab = 40A GeV to allow the observation of the dropping velocity of sound via an increase of the directed flow around midrapidity as compared to top BNL-AGS energy.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s100500070077
