Three-dimensional kaon and pion emission source extraction from \sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200 GeV Au+Au collisions at RHIC-STAR

TL;DR

This study extracts three-dimensional emission source images for kaons and pions in high-energy gold-gold collisions, revealing differences in emission duration and spatial distribution that inform understanding of the quark-gluon plasma.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed 3D source imaging for kaons and pions at RHIC energies, highlighting distinct emission characteristics.

Findings

Pion source function shows non-Gaussian features indicating finite emission duration.

Kaon source function is Gaussian, consistent with instantaneous emission.

Differences suggest varying emission dynamics for pions and kaons.

Abstract

Three-dimensional source images for mid-rapidity, low transverse momentum kaon and pion pairs have been extracted from central Au+Au collisions data at \sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200 GeV by the STAR experiment at RHIC. The pion source function displays significant non-Gaussian features implying a finite pion emission duration. On the other hand, the kaon source function is essentially Gaussian, consistent with instantaneous emission from the fireball.