The baryon phase-space density at mid-rapidity from central heavy-ion collisions is estimated from proton spectra with interferometry and deuteron coalescence measurements. It is found that the mid-rapidity phase-space density of baryons is significantly lower at the super proton synchrotron than the Alternating-Gradient Synchrotron, while those of total particles (pion + baryon) are comparable. Thermal and chemical equilibrium model calculations tend to over-estimate the phase-space densities at both energies.

• Received 15 September 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.61.021904