Universal Pion Freeze-out Phase-Space Density

Results on the pion freeze-out phase-space density in sulphur-nucleus, Pb-Pb and pion-proton collisions at CERN-SPS are presented. All heavy-ion reactions are consistent with the thermal Bose-Einstein distrtibution f=1/(exp(E/T)-1) at T~120 MeV, modified for expansion. Pion-proton data are also consistent with f, but at T~180 MeV.Comment: 1 page, 1 figure; 98' report for GSI-Darmstad

Multiplicity Distributions in Canonical and Microcanonical Statistical Ensembles

The aim of this paper is to introduce a new technique for calculation of observables, in particular multiplicity distributions, in various statistical ensembles at finite volume. The method is based on Fourier analysis of the grand canonical partition function. Taylor expansion of the generating function is used to separate contributions to the partition function in their power in volume. We employ Laplace's asymptotic expansion to show that any equilibrium distribution of multiplicity, charge, energy, etc. tends to a multivariate normal distribution in the thermodynamic limit. Gram-Charlier expansion allows additionally for calculation of finite volume corrections. Analytical formulas are presented for inclusion of resonance decay and finite acceptance effects directly into the system partition function. This paper consolidates and extends previously published results of current investigation into properties of statistical ensembles.Comment: 53 pages, 7 figure

System Size Dependence of Particle Production at the SPS

Recent results on the system size dependence of net-baryon and hyperon production as measured at the CERN SPS are discussed. The observed Npart dependences of yields, but also of dynamical properties, such as average transverse momenta, can be described in the context of the core corona approach. Other observables, such as antiproton yields and net-protons at forward rapidities, do not follow the predictions of this model. Possible implications for a search for a critical point in the QCD phase diagram are discussed. Event-by-event fluctuations of the relative core to corona source contributions might influence fluctuation observables (e.g. multiplicity fluctuations). The magnitude of this effect is investigated.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figurs. Proceedings of the 6th International Workshop on Critical Point and Onset of Deconfinement in Dubna, Aug. 201

Possible Resolutions of the D-Paradox

We propose possible ways of explaining the net charge event-by-event fluctuations in Au+Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider within a quark recombination model. We discuss various methods of estimating the number of quarks at recombination and their implications for the predicted net charge fluctuations. We also discuss the possibility of diquark and quark-antiquark clustering above the deconfinement temperature.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Unified Description of Freeze-Out Parameters in Relativistic Heavy Ion Collisions

It is shown that the chemical freeze-out parameters obtained at CERN/SPS, BNL/AGS and GSI/SIS energies all correspond to a unique value of 1 GeV per hadron in the local rest frame of the system, independent of the beam energy and of the target and beam particles.Comment: revtex, 1 figur

The canonical partition function for relativistic hadron gases

Particle production in high-energy collisions is often addressed within the framework of the thermal (statistical) model. We present a method to calculate the canonical partition function for the hadron resonance gas with exact conservation of the baryon number, strangeness, electric charge, charmness and bottomness. We derive an analytical expression for the partition function which is represented as series of Bessel functions. Our results can be used directly to analyze particle production yields in elementary and in heavy ion collisions. We also quantify the importance of quantum statistics in the calculations of the light particle multiplicities in the canonical thermal model of the hadron resonance gas.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures; submitted for publication in EPJ

The QCD confinement transition: hadron formation

We review the foundations and the applications of the statistical and the quark recombination model as hadronization models.Comment: 45 pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in Landolt-Boernstein Volume 1-23

Is Strangeness still interesting at RHIC ?

With the advent of the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Heavy Ion Physics will enter a new energy regime. The question is whether the signatures proposed for the discovery of a phase transition from hadronic matter to a Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP), that were established on the basis of collisions at the BEVALAC, the AGS, and the SPS, respectively, are still useful and detectable at these high incident energies. In the past two decades, measurements related to strangeness formation in the collision were advocated as potential signatures and were tested in numerous fixed target experiments at the AGS and the SPS. In this article I will review the capabilities of the RHIC detectors to measure various aspects of strangeness, and I will try to answer the question whether the information content of those measurements is comparable to the one at lower energies.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, Invited Talk at the IV International Conference on Strangeness in Quark Matter, Padova (Italy), July 20-24, 199

Locally anisotropic momentum distributions of hadrons at freeze-out in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

A spheroidal anisotropic local momentum distribution is implemented in the statistical model of hadron production. We show that this form leads to exactly the same ratios of hadronic abundances as the equilibrium distributions, if the temperature is identified with a characteristic transverse-momentum scale. Moreover, to a very good approximation the transverse-momentum spectra of hadrons are the same for isotropic and anisotropic systems, provided the size of the system at freeze-out is appropriately adjusted. We further show that this invariance may be used to improve the agreement between the model and experimental HBT results.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Districts, multinationals and global/digital networks

This paper reflects on what remains of Becattini’s utopia in the new context of a globalized and digital economy. Can one still foresee a global world populated with local societies able to produce value by following their own inspirations and chorally participating in a world-wide division of cognitive labor? It is suggested that the interpretive value of Becattini’s theorizing remains, to the extent that one moves away from the consideration of the classical district model, and adopts his more general way of thinking about the economy, which is only exemplified by the historical circumstance of industrial districts. His view may well apply to a variety of circumstances, not only to industrial districts and it is flexible enough to encompass economic change under different environmental conditions