Maximal Net Baryon Density in the Energy Region Covered by NICA

TL;DR

This paper reviews existing data on relativistic heavy ion collisions around 10 GeV, emphasizing the need for more precise measurements to understand the phase transition and strangeness content in this energy region.

Contribution

It highlights the importance of the 10 GeV energy region for understanding the QCD phase transition and calls for comprehensive measurements to clarify theoretical interpretations.

Findings

Identified a gap in data around 10 GeV energy region.

Emphasized the need for full phase space measurements.

Suggested that better data could clarify the nature of the phase transition.

Abstract

There are several theoretical indications that the energy region covered by the proposed NICA accelerator in Dubna is an extremely interesting one. We present a review of data obtained in relativistic heavy ion collisions and show that there is a gap around 10 GeV where more and better precise measurements are needed. The theoretical interpretation can only be clarified by covering this energy region. In particular the strangeness content needs to be determined, data covering the full phase space ($4 \pi$) would be very helpful to establish the thermal parameters of a possible phase transition.