Evolution of the hot dense matter at LHC energies through light and heavy-flavor hadrons using non-extensive thermodynamics

TL;DR

This study uses non-extensive thermodynamics to analyze the evolution of hot, dense matter in high-energy collisions at the LHC, focusing on light and heavy-flavor hadrons to understand thermalization and system properties.

Contribution

It introduces a method to determine Tsallis parameters for various hadrons across different collision systems, revealing mass-dependent thermalization patterns and constraining heat capacity.

Findings

Charm hadrons originate earlier than light hadrons.

The temperature parameter $T_{eq}$ correlates with hadron mass.

Results provide insights into the thermalization process and system heat capacity.

Abstract

We investigate the formation and evolution of hot systems comprising charmed and light hadrons using non-extensive thermodynamics. We analyze data from pp, p--Pb, and Pb--Pb collisions at center-of-mass energies ranging from $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$~TeV to 13~TeV, measured by the CERN LHC ALICE experiment. The hadron species examined include charged pions and kaons, ${\rm K}^0_{\rm s}$, (anti)protons, $\phi$ mesons, $\Lambda^0$ hyperons, and D mesons. Employing our previously established methods, we determine the common Tsallis parameters $T_{\rm eq}$ and $q_{\rm eq}$ for each hadron type. While charm comes from earlier than light hadrons, we see that $T_{\rm eq}$ is ordered by mass, reflecting a similar ordering in the time-scale relevant for the spectrum. Our results also allow for constraining the heat capacity of the system. The current analysis thus enhances our understanding of hadron production dynamics and thermal properties in high-energy collisions.