Effect of Delta potential on the pion-/pion+ ratio in heavy-ion collisions at intermediate energies

TL;DR

This study investigates how the delta resonance potential influences pion and nucleon ratios in heavy-ion collisions, finding effects are energy-dependent and can be approximated by nucleon potentials under certain conditions.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of delta resonance potential effects on particle ratios in heavy-ion collisions using the IBUU model, highlighting conditions where these effects are observable.

Findings

Delta potential has negligible effect on free n/p ratio.

Delta isovector potential affects the /+ ratio at lower energies.

Delta isoscalar potential influences the /+ ratio around the Coulomb peak.

Abstract

Based on the isospin-dependent Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck(IBUU) transport model, effects of $\Delta$ resonance potential on the free n/p and $\pi^-/\pi^+$ ratios in the central collision of $^{197}Au+^{197}Au$ at beam energies of 200 and 400 MeV/A are studied. It is found that the effect of $\Delta$ potential on the ratio of pre-equilibrium free $n/p$ is invisible. The effect of $\Delta$ isovector potential on the kinetic energy integrating ratio of $\pi^-/\pi^+$ may be observable only at lower incident beam energies and with stiffer symmetry energy. The strength of the $\Delta$ isoscalar potential affects the height of the $\pi^-/\pi^+$ ratio around the Coulomb peak but does not affect the kinetic energy integrating ratio of $\pi^-/\pi^+$. In heavy-ion collisions at intermediate energies, relating to the question of non-conservation of energy on $\Delta$ or $\pi$ productions, one can replace the $\Delta$ potential by nucleon isoscalar potential especially a soft symmetry energy is employed.