Strange hadron production in heavy ion collisions from SPS to RHIC

TL;DR

This paper reviews experimental observations of strange hadron production in heavy ion collisions at SPS and RHIC, exploring their potential as signals of quark-gluon plasma formation and analyzing data across different energies and system sizes.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of strange particle production data and discusses their implications for detecting the quark-gluon plasma in heavy ion collisions.

Findings

Strangeness yields increase with collision energy and system size.

Strange particle spectra and flow patterns suggest possible signals of deconfined matter.

Data indicates potential sensitivity of strange particles to the partonic phase.

Abstract

Strange particles have been a very important observable in the search for a deconfined state of strongly interacting matter, the quark-gluon plasma (QGP), which is expected to be formed in ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions. We review the main experimental observations made at the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) at CERN, Geneva, and at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). The large amount of recently collected data allows for a comprehensive study of strangeness production as a function of energy and system size. We review results on yields, transverse mass and rapidity spectra, as well as elliptic flow. The measurements are interpreted in the context of various theoretical concepts and their implications are discussed. Of particular interest is the question whether strange particles are in any way sensitive to a partonic phase. Finally, a compilation of experimental data is provided.