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Threshold Collision Energy of the QCD Phase Diagram Tricritical Endpoint

  • Physics of Elementary Particles and Atomic Nuclei. Theory
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Abstract

Using the most advanced formulation of the hadron resonance gas model we analyze the two sets of irregularities found at chemical freeze-out of central nuclear-nuclear collisions at the center of mass energies 3.8–4.9 GeV and 7.6–9.2 GeV. In addition to previously reported irregularities at the collision energies 4.9 and 9.2 GeV we found sharp peaks of baryonic charge density. Also we analyze the collision energy dependence of the modified Wroblewski factor and the strangeness suppression factor. Based on the thermostatic properties of the mixed phase of a 1st order phase transition and the ones of the Hagedorn mass spectrum we explain, respectively, the reason of observed chemical equilibration of strangeness at the collision energy 4.9 GeV and above 8.7 GeV. It is argued that the both sets of irregularities possibly evidence for two phase transitions, namely, the 1st order transition at lower energy range and the 2nd order transition at higher one. In combination with a recent analysis of the light nuclei number fluctuations we conclude that the center of mass collision energy range 8.8–9.2 GeV may be in the nearest vicinity of the QCD tricritical endpoint. The properties of the phase existing between two phase transitions are revealed and discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bogolyubov Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kiev, 03680, Ukraine

    K. A. Bugaev, V. V. Sagun, A. I. Ivanytskyi & G. M. Zinovjev

  2. Department of Physics, University of Oslo, Oslo, N-0316, Norway

    R. Emaus, L. V. Bravina & E. E. Zabrodin

  3. CENTRA, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, 1049-001, Portugal

    V. V. Sagun

  4. Institute of Theoretical Physics, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, 50-204, Poland

    D. B. Blaschke

  5. Bogoliubov Laboratory of Theoretical Physics, JINR Dubna, Dubna, 141980, Russia

    D. B. Blaschke

  6. National Research Nuclear University “MEPhI” (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), Moscow, 115409, Russia

    D. B. Blaschke, A. V. Taranenko & E. E. Zabrodin

  7. Laboratory for Information Technologies, JINR, Dubna, 141980, Russia

    E. G. Nikonov

  8. Skobeltzyn Institute of Nuclear Physics, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119899, Russia

    E. E. Zabrodin

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  1. K. A. Bugaev
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  2. R. Emaus
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Bugaev, K.A., Emaus, R., Sagun, V.V. et al. Threshold Collision Energy of the QCD Phase Diagram Tricritical Endpoint. Phys. Part. Nuclei Lett. 15, 210–224 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1547477118030068

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