DOI: 10.1140/epjc/s2002-01104-4
Hydrodynamic description of spectra at high transverse mass in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions
T. PeitzmannUniversiteit Utrecht, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands
(Received: 4 July 2002 / Revised version: 6 November 2002 / Published online: 20 December 2002 )
Abstract
Transverse mass spectra of
pions and protons measured in central collisions of heavy ions at
the SPS and at RHIC are compared to a hydrodynamic parameterization.
While the chemical temperature needed at RHIC is significantly higher
compared to SPS, the spectra may be described using kinetic
freeze-out parameters which are similar for both beam energies.
At RHIC either the temperature or the flow velocity is
higher, but the data provide no unambiguous proof for
much stronger transverse flow.
The contribution of such hydrodynamic emission at high transverse
momenta is investigated in detail. It is shown that hydrodynamics may
be relevant up to relatively high transverse momenta. The importance
of the velocity profile used in this context is highlighted.
© Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2003
