S. Esumi

Identified pion interferometry in heavy-ion collisions at CERN

Abstract π + π + correlations from S + Pb collisions at 200 GeV/ c per nucleon, measured by the focusing spectrometer of the NA44 experiment at CERN, are presented. The large data set, particularly at small values of Q inv , allows determination of the detailed shape of the correlation function. We construct the background by event mixing, and correct for resolution, Coulomb interaction, and distortion of single-particle spectra which produce effects large compared to the statistical errors at small Q inv . An exponential, rather than gaussian, source distribution is slightly favoured, but both are statistically acceptable.

The TIC — a multi-particle threshold imaging Cherenkov detector

Abstract The Threshold Imaging Cherenkov (TIC) was built as part of an upgrade programme for the NA44 spectrometer in view of 160 GeV·A lead-ion beams from the CERN SPS. The detector is used to distinguish pion tracks from those of heavier particles (K, p, d) in the momentum range of 4–8 GeV/c. Cherenkov photons produced by pions in a 1 m long isobutane radiator are converted to electrons in TMAE at 25°C and detected in a MWPC with 2-dimensional cathode pad readout. A threshold is set on the number of pads hit within a fiducial zone on the cathode plane around a projected external track.

Mid-rapidity protons in 158A·GeV Pb+Pb collisions

Abstract Proton distributions at mid-rapidity (2 ≤ y ≤ 3) have been measured for 158A·GeV Pb+Pb collisions in the focusing spectrometer experiment NA44 at CERN. From baryon number conservation and by comparing the experimentally measured d N d y distribution with the transport model RQMD, we conclude that a rather high degree of nuclear stopping has been reached for the truly heavy-ion collisions at these energies. Transverse mass distributions exhibit characteristically thermal shapes and the slope parameters increase with the mass of the colliding system.

Three Pion Correlations in Sulphur Lead Collisions at the CERN SPS

Abstract π + π + π + correlations from sulphur-lead collisions at 200 GeV/c per nucleon are presented as measured by the focusing spectrometer of experiment NA44 at CERN. We have investigated the three-pion correlation function at mid-rapidity and found that a genuine three-body correlation is suppressed. A possible interpretation of this result is that the emission of particles is partially coherent.

Strange meson enhancement in PbPb collisions

Abstract The NA44 Collaboration has measured yields and differential distributions of K + , K − , π + , π − in transverse kinetic energy and rapidity, around the center-of-mass rapidity in 158 A GeV/ c Pb+Pb collisions at the CERN SPS. A considerable enhancement of K + production per π is observed, as compared to p + p collisions at this energy. To illustrate the importance of secondary hadron rescattering as an enhancement mechanism, we compare strangeness production at the SPS and AGS with predictions of the transport model RQMD.The NA44 Collaboration has measured yields and differential distributions of K+, K-, pi+, pi- in transverse kinetic energy and rapidity, around the center-of-mass rapidity in 158 A GeV/c Pb+Pb collisions at the CERN SPS. A considerable enhancement of K+ production per pi is observed, as compared to p+p collisions at this energy. To illustrate the importance of secondary hadron rescattering as an enhancement mechanism, we compare strangeness production at the SPS and AGS with predictions of the transport model RQMD.

One and two-dimensional analysis of 3π correlations measured in Pb+Pb interactions

Abstract π−π−π− correlations from Pb+Pb collisions at 158 GeV/c per nucleon are presented as measured by the focusing spectrometer of the NA44 experiment at CERN. The three-body effect is found to be stronger for Pb+Pb than for S+Pb. The two-dimensional three-particle correlation function is also measured and the longitudinal extension of the source is larger than the transverse extension.

Coulomb effect in single particle distributions

Abstract Single particle distributions from heavy-ion collisions show the effect of Coulomb interactions on the final state. While a rather strong effect is seen in the ratio π − π + from central 158A·GeV/c Pb+Pb collisions, at most a small enhancement is found in the ratios from S+S and S+Pb collisions at 200A·GeV/c.

Directional dependence of the pion source in high-energy heavy-ion collisions

Abstract π + π + and π − π − correlations from 200 GeV per nucleon S + Pb collisions and π + π + correlations from 450 GeV p + Pb collisions measured by the focussing spectrometer of CERN experiment NA44 are presented. The large data set which emphasizes small values of momentum difference allows multi-dimensional analysis along with the more traditional one-dimensional parameterization to characterize the pion emission source. It is found that the three radius parameters are similar and large compared to the projectile radius. This can be explained by pion scattering in the final state hadronic system.

A Cherenkov beam counter for ultra-relativistic heavy-ion experiments

Abstract A beam counter system consisting of two sets of gas Cherenkov counters was constructed for ultra-relativistic heavy-ion experiments. The performance has been examined with sulphur ions of 200 GeV/c per nucleon. The intrinsic time resolution and the width of the pulse height distribution are 30 ps and 5%, respectively, at a beam intensity of 2×106 ions/s. The detector was successfully operated for more than one month, although some reduction in pulse height was observed as a long-term variation.

Kaon interferometry in heavy ion collisions at the CERN SPS

K+K+ and K−K− correlations from S+Pb collisions at 200 GeV/c per nucleon and K+K+ correlations from p+Pb collisions at 450 GeV/c per nucleon, are presented as measured by the focusing spectrometer of the NA44 experiment at CERN. Multidimensional fits are performed in order to characterize the kaon-emission volume, which is found to be smaller than the pion-emission volume.