Rapidity equilibration in d + Au and Au + Au systems

In a Relativistic Diffusion Model (RDM), the evolution of net-proton rapidity spectra with sqrt(s_NN) in heavy systems is proposed as an indicator for local equilibration and longitudinal expansion. The broad midrapidity valley recently discovered at RHIC in central Au + Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)= 200 GeV suggests rapid local equilibration which is most likely due to deconfinement, and fast longitudinal expansion. Rapidity spectra of produced charged hadrons in d + Au and Au + Au systems at RHIC energies and their centrality dependence are well described in a three-sources RDM. In central collisions, about 19 % of the produced particles are in the equilibrated midrapidity region for d + Au.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures; QGPTH05 Vienna; references update

Electromagnetic field effects on Υ\Upsilon-meson dissociation in PbPb collisions at LHC energies

We investigate the effect of the electromagnetic field generated in relativistic heavy-ion collisions on the dissociation of $\Upsilon$ mesons. The electromagnetic field is calculated using a simple model which characterizes the emerging quark-gluon plasma (QGP) by its conductivity only. A numerical estimate of the field strength experienced by $\Upsilon$ mesons embedded in the expanding QGP and its consequences on the $\Upsilon$ dissociation is made. The electromagnetic field effects prove to be negligible compared to the established strong-interaction suppression mechanisms.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Stopping in central Pb + Pb collisions at SPS energies and beyond

We investigate stopping and baryon transport in central relativistic Pb + Pb and Au + Au collisions. At energies reached at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron [sqrt(s_NN) = 6.3-17.3 GeV] and at RHIC (62.4 GeV), we determine the fragmentation-peak positions from the data. The resulting linear growth of the peak positions with beam rapidity is in agreement with our results from a QCD-based approach that accounts for gluon saturation. No discontinuities in the net-proton fragmentation peak positions occur in the expected transition region from partons to hadrons at 6-10 GeV.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 1 table. Figures updated, table shortened, 1 reference adde

The influence of the Chi_b(3P) state on the decay cascade of bottomium in PbPb collisions at LHC energies

We investigate the decay cascade of the Upsilon(nS) meson including the newly found Chi_b(3P) state in pp and PbPb collisions at LHC energies. The main goal is to quantitatively determine the additional suppression of the Upsilon(nS) states in PbPb collisions relative to pp at LHC energies of sqrt(s_NN) = 2.76 TeV when the Chi_b(3P) state is included together with the Upsilon(nS) and Chi_b(1P,2P) states. It is found that the suppression of Upsilon(1S) in PbPb collisions relative to pp is increased by at most 7% through the inclusion of Chi_b(3P), whereas the suppression factors for the Upsilon(2S) and Upsilon(3S) states do not change significantly.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Hadron production in heavy relativistic systems

We investigate particle production in heavy-ion collisions at RHIC energies as function of incident energy, and centrality in a three-sources Relativistic Diffusion Model. Pseudorapidity distributions of produced charged hadrons in Au + Au and Cu + Cu collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 19.6 GeV, 62.4 GeV, 130 GeV and 200 GeV show an almost equilibrated midrapidity source that tends to increase in size towards higher incident energy, and more central collisions. It may indicate quark-gluon plasma formation prior to hadronization.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

Local thermalization in d + Au collisions

The extent of a locally equilibrated parton plasma in d + Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV is investigated as a function of centrality in a nonequilibrium-statistical framework. Based on a three-sources model, analytical solutions of a relativistic diffusion equation are in precise agreement with recent data for charged-particle pseudorapidity distributions. The moving midrapidity source indicates the size of the local thermal equilibrium region after hadronization. In central d + Au collisions it contains 19% of the produced particles.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, Proc. QM2005 Budapes