Observation of Gaussian pseudorapidity distributions for produced particles in proton-nucleus collisions at Tevatron energies

TL;DR

This study identifies Gaussian pseudorapidity distributions in proton-nucleus collisions at Tevatron energies, suggesting a QCD phase transition in central proton-tube interactions with high energy density.

Contribution

It provides the first observation of Gaussian pseudorapidity distributions in proton-nucleus collisions at Tevatron energies, indicating possible QCD phase transition phenomena.

Findings

Gaussian pseudorapidity distributions observed in specific events

Events are very central collisions with high multiplicity

Energy density reaches 2.0 GeV per fm^3

Abstract

The statistical event-by-event analysis of inelastic interactions of protons in emulsion at 800 GeV reveals the existence of group of events with Gaussian pseudorapidity distributions for produced particles, as suggested by hydrodynamic-tube model. Events belong to very central collisions of protons with heavy emulsion nuclei with probability of realization of less than 1% and with multiplicity of shower particles exceeding (2-3 times) the average multiplicity in proton-nucleus collisions in emulsion. The Bjorken's energy density for these events reaches 2.0 GeV per fm^3. The data are interpreted as a result of the QCD phase transition in proton-tube collisions at Tevatron energies.