Model for hypernucleus production in heavy ion collisions

TL;DR

This paper estimates hypernuclei production cross sections in heavy ion collisions using a combined model, revealing significant differences from traditional coalescence predictions, especially for certain light hypernuclei.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach combining HIJING-BBbar and CTM models to estimate hypernuclei production, explicitly considering impact parameter dependence.

Findings

Cross sections differ from coalescence model predictions.

Large discrepancies found for 6_He and 9_Be hypernuclei.

Results for C+C, Ne+Ne, and Ar+Ar collisions at specified energies.

Abstract

We estimate the production cross sections of hypernuclei in projectile like fragment (PLF) in heavy ion collisions. The discussed scenario for the formation cross section of hypernucleus is: (a) Lambda particles are produced in the participant region but have a considerable rapidity spread and (b) Lambda with rapidity close to that of the PLF and total momentum (in the rest system of PLF) up to Fermi motion can then be trapped and produce hypernuclei. The process (a) is considered here within Heavy Ion Jet Interacting Generator HIJING-BBbar model and the process (b) in the canonical thermodynamic model (CTM). We estimate the production cross-sections for light hypernuclei for C + C at 3.7 GeV total nucleon-nucleon center of mass energy and for Ne+Ne and Ar+Ar collisions at 5.0 GeV. By taking into account explicitly the impact parameter dependence of the colliding systems, it is found that the cross section is different from that predicted by the coalescence model and large discrepancy is obtained for 6_He and 9_Be hypernuclei.