Light cluster production at NICA

TL;DR

This paper explores light cluster production at NICA, combining theoretical models and simulations to understand their role as probes of in-medium nuclear matter properties.

Contribution

It integrates nuclear statistical equilibrium, quantum statistical, transport, and hydrodynamic models to analyze light cluster formation at NICA.

Findings

Clusters serve as probes of phase space occupation.

Transport and hydrodynamic models provide consistent descriptions.

Results suggest clusters reveal early flow characteristics.

Abstract

Light cluster production at the NICA accelerator complex offers unique possibilities to use these states as "rare probes" of in-medium characteristics such as phase space occupation and early flow. In order to explain this statement, in this contribution theoretical considerations from the nuclear statistical equilibrium model and from a quantum statistical model of cluster production are supplemented with a discussion of a transport model for light cluster formation and with results from hydrodynamic simulations combined with the coalescence model.