https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-006-0055-z
Regular Article – Theoretical Physics
Space-time evolution of hadronization
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
* e-mail: aaccardi@mail-cunuke.phys.columbia.edu
Received:
31
July
2006
Published online:
6
December
2006
Beside its intrinsic interest for the insights it can give into color confinement, knowledge of the space-time evolution of hadronization is very important for correctly interpreting jet-quenching data in heavy-ion collisions and extracting the properties of the produced medium. On the experimental side, the cleanest environment to study the space-time evolution of hadronization is semi-inclusive deeply inelastic scattering on nuclear targets. On the theoretical side, two frameworks are presently competing to explain the observed attenuation of hadron production: quark energy loss (with hadron formation outside the nucleus) and nuclear absorption (with hadronization starting inside the nucleus). I will discuss recent observables and ideas which will help to distinguish these two mechanisms and to measure the time scales of the hadronization process.
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2007
