Geant4 FTF model description of the latest data by the NA61/SHINE collaboration on ${\rm ^{40}Ar+{}^{45}Sc}$ interactions

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the Geant4 FTF model's ability to replicate NA61/SHINE experimental data on $ m ^{40}Ar+{}^{45}Sc$ interactions, highlighting its success at lower energies and limitations at higher energies, suggesting QGP formation.

Contribution

It provides a detailed comparison of the Geant4 FTF model with experimental data across a range of energies, indicating where the model succeeds and where it suggests new physics such as QGP formation.

Findings

Model describes data well at $ m oot{NN}$= 5.2-8.8 GeV

Model underestimates data at $ m oot{NN}$= 11.9-16.8 GeV

Indicates possible QGP formation at higher energies

Abstract

It is shown that the Geant4 FTF model, which does not include the simulation of the hard parton-parton scattering and the formation of the quark-gluon plasma (QGP), describes well the NA61/SHINE data on $\pi^-$ meson distributions for the interactions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=$ 5.2, 6.1, 7.6 and 8.8 GeV. At higher energies, $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=$ 11.9 and 16.8 GeV, the model underestimates the data. This is considered as an indication of the formation of QGP at higher energies in central collisions of light and intermediate nuclei than in collisions of heavy nuclei ($\sqrt{s_{NN}}\sim 6$ GeV).