Formation of the intermediate baryon systems in hadron-nuclear and nuclear-nuclear interactions

TL;DR

This paper explores the formation of intermediate baryon systems in high-energy hadron-nuclear and nuclear-nuclear interactions, proposing that nucleon percolation and cluster formation explain observed regime changes and saturation effects.

Contribution

It introduces the hypothesis that intermediate baryon systems formed via nucleon percolation account for critical phenomena in particle emission characteristics.

Findings

Identification of transparency changes as a signal of baryon system formation

Observation of increased light nuclei production with centrality

Proposed percolation cluster formation as a key mechanism

Abstract

The centrality experiments indicate regime change and saturation in the behavior of some characteristics of the secondary particles emitted in hadron-nuclear and nuclear-nuclear interactions at high energies. The phenomenon has a critical character. The simple models do not explain the effect. We suppose that the responsible mechanism to explain the phenomenon could be the formation and decay of the intermediate baryon systems. Such systems could be formed as a result of nucleon percolation in compressed baryonic matter. Formation of big percolation cluster may change the properties of the medium, e.g., it could lead to the changing its transparency. This could be used to get a signal of the intermediate baryonic system formation. We consider two signals to identify the formation of the intermediate baryon systems: the critical changing of transparency of the strongly interacting matter and the enhancement of light nuclei production with increase in centrality.