Searching for the Critical Point of QCD: Theoretical Benchmark Calculations

We present a comprehensive study of event-by-event multiplicity fluctuations in nucleon-nucleon and nucleus-nucleus interactions from AGS/FAIR to RHIC energies within the UrQMD transport approach. The scaled variances of negative, positive, and all charged hadrons are analysed. The scaled variance in central Pb+Pb collisions increases with energy and behaves similar to inelastic p+p interactions. We find a non-trivial dependence of multiplicity fluctuations on the rapidity and transverse momentum interval used for the analysis and on the centrality selection procedure. Quantitative predictions for the NA49 experiment are given, taking into account the acceptance of the detector and the selection procedure of central events.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figure

Event-by-Event Analysis of Baryon-Strangeness Correlations: Pinning Down the Critical Temperature and Volume of QGP Formation

The recently proposed baryon-strangeness correlation (C_BS) is studied with a string-hadronic transport model (UrQMD) for various energies from E_lab=4 AGeV to \sqrt s=200 AGeV. It is shown that rescattering among secondaries can not mimic the predicted correlation pattern expected for a Quark-Gluon-Plasma. However, we find a strong increase of the C_BS correlation function with decreasing collision energy both for pp and Au+Au/Pb+Pb reactions. For Au+Au reactions at the top RHIC energy (\sqrt s=200 AGeV), the C_BS correlation is constant for all centralities and compatible with the pp result. With increasing width of the rapidity window, C_BS follows roughly the shape of the baryon rapidity distribution. We suggest to study the energy and centrality dependence of C_BS which allow to gain information on the onset of the deconfinement transition in temperature and volume

Estimation of the shear viscosity at finite net-baryon density from A+A collision data at sNN=7.7−200\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} = 7.7-200 GeV

Hybrid approaches based on relativistic hydrodynamics and transport theory have been successfully applied for many years for the dynamical description of heavy ion collisions at ultrarelativistic energies. In this work a new viscous hybrid model employing the hadron transport approach UrQMD for the early and late non-equilibrium stages of the reaction, and 3+1 dimensional viscous hydrodynamics for the hot and dense quark-gluon plasma stage is introduced. This approach includes the equation of motion for finite baryon number, and employs an equation of state with finite net-baryon density to allow for calculations in a large range of beam energies. The parameter space of the model is explored, and constrained by comparison with the experimental data for bulk observables from SPS and the phase I beam energy scan at RHIC. The favored parameter values depend on energy, but allow to extract the effective value of the shear viscosity coefficient over entropy density ratio $\eta/s$ in the fluid phase for the whole energy region under investigation. The estimated value of $\eta/s$ increases with decreasing collision energy, which may indicate that $\eta/s$ of the quark-gluon plasma depends on baryochemical potential $\mu_B$.Comment: minor changes in the text, results for constant eta*T/w added. Version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Event-by-event fluctuations of the charged particle ratio from non-equilibrium transport theory

The event by event fluctuations of the ratio of positively to negatively charged hadrons are predicted within the UrQMD model. Corrections for finite acceptance and finite net charge are derived. These corrections are relevant to compare experimental data and transport model results to previous predictions. The calculated fluctuations at RHIC and SPS energies are shown to be compatible with a hadron gas. Thus, deviating by a factor of 3 from the predictions for a thermalized quark-gluon plasma.Comment: This paper clarifies the previous predictions of Jeon and Koch (hep-ph/0003168) and addresses issues raised in hep-ph/0006023. 2 Figures, 10pp, uses RevTe

A model comparison of resonance lifetime modifications, a soft equation of state and non-Gaussian effects on π−π\pi-\pi correlations at FAIR/AGS energies

HBT correlations of $\pi^--\pi^-$ pairs at FAIR/AGS energies are investigated by using the UrQMD transport model and the CRAB analyzing program. Three different possible sources (treatment of resonance lifetimes, a soft equation of state and non-Gaussian effects) to understand the HBT $R_O/R_S$ puzzle are investigated. Firstly, we find that different treatments of the resonance decay time can not resolve the HBT time-related puzzle, however it can modify the HBT radii at low transverse momenta to some extent to explain the data slightly. Secondly, with a soft equation of state with momentum dependence, the measured transverse momentum dependent HBT radii and $R_O/R_S$ ratio can be described fairly well. Thirdly, non-Gaussian effects are visible in the calculated correlation function. Using the Edgeworth expansion, one finds that the non-Gaussian effect is strongest in the longitudinal direction and weakest in the sideward direction.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures. To be published in J.Phys.