On the Energy and Centrality Dependence of Higher Order Moments of Net-Proton Distributions in Relativistic Heavy Ion Collisions

TL;DR

This paper models the energy and centrality dependence of higher order moments of net-proton distributions in heavy ion collisions to probe the QCD critical point, providing predictions for different collision energies and centralities.

Contribution

It introduces a simple model considering baryon stopping and pair production effects to predict net-proton distribution moments across energies and centralities in heavy ion collisions.

Findings

Predicted net-proton distributions for Au+Au and Pb+Pb collisions at various energies.

Parameterization of the dependence of moments on energy and centrality.

Proposed experimental tests in non-central rapidity regions.

Abstract

The higher order moments of the net-baryon distributions in relativistic heavy ion collisions are useful probes for the QCD critical point and fluctuations. Within a simple model we study the colliding energy and centrality dependence of the net-proton distributions in the central rapidity region. The model is based on considering the baryon stopping and pair production effects in the processes. Based on some physical reasoning, the dependence is parameterized. Predictions for the net-proton distributions for Au+Au and Pb+Pb collisions at different centralities at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=39 and 2760 GeV, respectively, are presented from the parameterizations for the model parameters. A possible test of our model is proposed from investigating the net proton distributions in the non-central rapidity region for different colliding centralities and energies.