Clusters and higher moments of proton number fluctuations

TL;DR

This paper investigates how deuteron production affects proton number fluctuation measurements and proposes using higher moments of deuteron distribution to determine their production mechanism.

Contribution

It highlights the impact of deuteron coalescence on proton fluctuation analysis and suggests a method to distinguish production mechanisms via higher moments.

Findings

Deuteron coalescence significantly influences proton fluctuation measurements.

Higher moments of deuteron distribution can differentiate production mechanisms.

Accounting for deuteron effects is crucial for accurate baryon fluctuation analysis.

Abstract

Production of deuterons by coalescence has an important influence on the moments of the observed proton number distribution. Therefore, this effect must be taken into account when physics conclusions about baryon number fluctuation are drawn from the measurement of proton number fluctuations. We also show that a measurement of the third and fourth moments of the deuteron number distribution would allow to distinguish whether deuterons are produced statistically or by coalescence.