Search for phase transition signatures in high energy hadronic and heavy ion interactions
Abstract
According to the quark model, quarks are confined in particles. However, a first order phase transition was predicted at high energy density and temperature. Some of the possible signals of a phase transition to deconfined quark-gluon plasma were studied in proton-antiproton collisions at 300, 546, 1000 and 1800 GeV. The average transverse momentum as a function of multiplicity was determined using realistic background for tracking efficiency studies. The correlations of particle production were investigated as a function of energy, pseudorapidity snd pseudorapidity gap. Applying the cluster model of particle production, the average cluster sizes were determined using two different methods at the available center of mass energies. The results obtained in both ways are consistent. As a new feature, it was found that the cluster size increased at multiplicity of $\approx$40. Finally, a new trigger system is presented whose potential is proven to be satisfactory for on-line selection of events which are strangelet candidates in relativistic heavy ion collisions.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Porile, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Particle physics
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