Continuous decoupling and freeze-out

TL;DR

This paper introduces a smooth, semi-classical approach to modeling decoupling and freeze-out in energetic nuclear collisions, improving upon traditional instantaneous models and linking damping width to decoupling duration.

Contribution

It presents a generalized, transparent decoupling formula that smoothly models freeze-out, extending beyond the common instantaneous approximation.

Findings

Provides relations between damping width and decoupling duration

Discusses implications for expansion and decay dynamics of hadronic matter

Offers a unified framework for freeze-out processes

Abstract

The decoupling and freeze-out of energetic nuclear collisions is analysed in terms of transparent semi-classical decoupling formulae. They provide a smooth transition and generalise frequently employed instantaneous freeze-out procedures. Simple relations between the damping width and the duration of the decoupling process are presented and the implications on various physical phenomena arising from the expansion and decay dynamics of the highly compressed hadronic matter generated in high energy nuclear collisions are discussed.