Pion production in intermediate-energy heavy-ion collisions with a relativistic quantum molecular dynamics model

TL;DR

This study uses a relativistic quantum molecular dynamics model to analyze pion production and collective flows in intermediate-energy heavy-ion collisions, revealing insights into symmetry energy effects and pion spectra.

Contribution

It introduces a relativistic mean field approach into the LQMD model to systematically investigate isospin-dependent flow and pion production in heavy-ion collisions.

Findings

Directed flow difference between neutrons and protons at midrapidity.

Pion transverse momentum spectra are similar in symmetric and neutron-rich systems.

Double ratio behavior depends on the inclusion of the pion-nucleon potential.

Abstract

The relativistic mean field approach by distinguishing \com{the slope of symmetry energy} is implemented into the Lanzhou quantum molecular dynamics transport model (LQMD.RMF). The collective flows in the isotopic nuclear reactions are systematically investigated by the relativistic quantum molecular dynamics model \com{with various slopes of symmetry energy}. The structure of the directed and elliptic flows is consistent with the results of the nonrelativistic transportation of nucleon system. \com{The directed flow difference between free neutrons and protons appears in the midrapidity region. The transverse momentum spectra of $\pi^+$ production is close to each other in the nearly symmetric $^{108}\mathrm{Sn} + ^{112}\mathrm{Sn}$ system and the neutron-rich $^{132}\mathrm{Sn} + ^{124}\mathrm{Sn}$ system. However, since there are more neutron-neutron scatterings in neutron-rich system, the transverse momentum spectra of $\pi^-$ production in the neutron-rich system are higher than one in the nearly symmetric system. For a given reaction system, the transverse momentum spectra of $\pi^+$ and $\pi^-$ production are independent on the stiffness of symmetry energy. This leads to the fact that the single ratio and the double ratio are independent on the stiffness of symmetry energy. Moreover, the double ratio without the $\pi$-nucleon potential decreases with increasing the transverse momentum. However, the double ratio with the inclusion of $\pi$ potential increases with increasing the transverse momentum.