Multiplicities in Au-Au and Cu-Cu collisions at \sqrt{s_{NN}} = 62.4 and 200 GeV

Likelihood ratio tests are performed for the hypothesis that charged-particle multiplicities measured in Au-Au and Cu-Cu collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 62.4$ and 200 GeV are distributed according to the negative binomial form. Results suggest that the hypothesis should be rejected in the all classes of collision systems and centralities of PHENIX-RHIC measurements. However, the application of the least-squares test statistic with systematic errors included shows that for the collision system Au-Au at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 62.4$ GeV the hypothesis could not be rejected in general.Comment: 21 pages, 8 figures, 8 tables, inference from the least-squares test statistic has been improved, conclusions changed, to appear in Phys. Rev. C. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1101.078

The centrality dependence of transverse energy and charged particle multiplicity at RHIC: Statistical model analysis

The transverse energy and charged particle multiplicity at midrapidity and their ratio are evaluated in a statistical model with the longitudinal and transverse flows for different centrality bins at RHIC at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=130$ and 200 GeV. Full description of decays of hadron resonances is applied in these estimations. The predictions of the model at the freeze-out parameters, which were determined independently from measured particle yields and $p_{T}$ spectra, agree qualitatively well with the experimental data. The observed overestimation of the ratio can be explained for more central collisions by the redefinition of $dN_{ch}/d\eta|_{mid}$.Comment: Revtex, 8 figures (included), 11 pages. This is the final version accepted for publication in Eur. Phys. J. A, only minor editorial changes are mad

The statistical hadronization model approach to sNN=200\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200 GeV Au-Au collisions: pTp_{T}-spectra fits and global variable predictions

Three possible scenarios of the statistical hadronization model are reexamined with the use of the $p_{T}$ spectra of the PHENIX and very low $p_{T}$ PHOBOS measurements at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV. These scenarios are: (\textit{a}) full chemical non-equilibrium, (\textit{b}) strangeness chemical non-equilibrium and (\textit{c}) chemical equilibrium. Fits to the spectra are done within the Cracow single-freeze-out model, which takes into account both the expansion and resonance decays. Predictions for spectra of $\phi$, $K(892)^{\ast 0}$ and $\pi^{0}$ are also given. The global variables like the transverse energy at midrapidity, the charged particle multiplicity at midrapidity and the total multiplicity of charged particles are evaluated and their predicted values agree qualitatively well with the experimental data. The thorough analysis within this model suggests that the chemical full non-equilibrium case is the least likely and both other cases are of the similar likelihood. It is also shown that if the full chemical non-equilibrium freeze-out took place it could manifest itself in the enhancement of the $\pi^{0}$-production at very low transverse momenta.Comment: 19 pages, 16 figures (included). This is the final version accepted in Phys. Rev. C. Figs.9 and 10 have been changed since it turned out that the data on \phi meson production were corrected for the branching ratio of \phi decay into K_{+}K_{-