Eur. Phys. J. C (2009) 61: 829-833
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-009-0991-5

Regular Article - Experimental Physics

Interpreting near-side correlations and the RHIC beam energy scan

Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA

^* e-mail: prsorensen@bnl.gov

Received: 20 September 2008
Revised: 9 March 2009
Published online: 17 April 2009

Abstract

Recent data from heavy ion collisions at RHIC show strong near-side correlations extending over several units of rapidity. This ridge-like correlation exhibits an abrupt onset with collision centrality. In this talk, I argue that the centrality and beam-energy dependence of these near-angle correlations could provide access to information about the Quark Gluon Plasma phase boundary and the Equation of State of nuclear matter. A beam-energy-scan at RHIC will better reveal the true source of these correlations and should be a high priority at RHIC.