Hadron production by quark combination in central Pb+Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}= 17.3$ GeV

TL;DR

This paper applies the quark combination model to analyze hadron production in central Pb+Pb collisions at 17.3 GeV, successfully matching experimental data and exploring quark flow and strangeness properties.

Contribution

It extends the quark combination mechanism to SPS energy collisions, providing detailed predictions of hadron yields and flow characteristics at this energy.

Findings

Agreement with NA49 experimental data

Stronger collective flow of strange quarks compared to light quarks

Strangeness content similar to higher energy collisions

Abstract

The quark combination mechanism of QGP hadronization is applied to nucleus-nucleus collisions at top SPS energy. The yields, rapidity and transverse momentum distributions of identified hadrons in most central Pb+Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}= 17.3$ GeV are systematically studied. The calculated results are in agreement with the experimental data from NA49 Collaboration. The longitudinal and transverse collective flows and strangeness of the hot and dense quark matter produced in nucleus-nucleus collisions at top SPS energy are investigated. It is found that the collective flow of strange quarks is stronger than light quarks, which is compatible with that at RHIC energies, and the strangeness is almost the same as those at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=$ 62.4, 130, 200 GeV.