Production of hypernuclei in multifragmentation of nuclear spectator matter

TL;DR

This paper extends the statistical multifragmentation model to hypernuclear systems, predicting hypernuclei yields and characteristics in relativistic heavy-ion collisions, and links the process to a hypermatter liquid-gas phase transition.

Contribution

It generalizes the existing model for ordinary nuclear multifragmentation to include hypernuclei, providing predictions for hypernuclear production in heavy-ion collisions.

Findings

Predicted relative yields of hypernuclei in spectator matter

Identified characteristics of hypernuclear break-up

Connected hypernuclear fragmentation to hypermatter phase transition

Abstract

In peripheral collisions of relativistic heavy ions highly excited spectators containing Lambda-hyperons can be produced. Such strange spectator matter may undergo a break-up into many fragments (multifragmentation) as it is well established for ordinary nuclear systems. We generalize the statistical multifragmentation model, previously successfully used for the description of experimental data, for the case of hypernuclear systems. We predict relative yields of hypernuclei and the main characteristics of such a break-up. We point at a connection of this phenomenon with a liquid-gas phase transition in hypermatter.