Eur. Phys. J. C 29, 79-85 (2003)
DOI: 10.1140/epjc/s2003-01209

On energy densities reached in heavy-ion collisions at the CERN SPS

J. Pisút^{1, 2}, N. Pisútová² and B. Tomásik<sup>1

1</sup>  CERN, Theory Division, 1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland
²  Department of Physics, Comenius University, 84248 Bratislava, Slovakia

(Received: 3 February 2003 / Revised version: 5 March 2003 / Published online: 5 May 2003 )

Abstract
We present a few estimates of energy densities reached in heavy-ion collisions at the CERN SPS. The estimates are based on data and models of proton-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus interactions. In all of these estimates the maximum energy density in central Pb+Pb interactions is larger than the critical energy density following from lattice gauge theory computations. In estimates which we consider as realistic the maximum energy density is about . In this way our analysis gives some support to claims that deconfined matter has been produced at the CERN SPS. Any definite statement requires a deeper understanding of formation times of partons and hadrons in nuclear collisions. We also compare our results with implicit energy estimates contained in earlier models of anomalous suppression in nuclear collisions.

© Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2003