Stopped nucleons in configuration space

TL;DR

This paper uses the colour string model to analyze how stopped nucleons are distributed in space during heavy-ion collisions, revealing energy-dependent separation and implications for equilibrium and baryon density.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of stopped nucleon configurations in collision space, highlighting energy-dependent separation effects.

Findings

Stopped nucleons from target and projectile separate with increasing energy.

For energies >6-10 GeV, the system likely isn't in thermal or chemical equilibrium.

Net baryon density doesn't significantly exceed initial nuclear density.

Abstract

In this note, using the colour string model, we study the configuration space distribution of stopped nucleons in heavy-ion collisions. We find that the stopped nucleons from the target and the projectile end up separated from each other by the distance increasing with the collision energy. In consequence, for the center of mass energies larger than 6 or 10 GeV (depending on the details of the model) it appears that the system created is not in thermal and chemical equilibrium, and the net baryon density reached is likely not much higher than that already present in the colliding nuclei.