Directly probing existence of $α$-cluster structure in $^{20}$Ne by relativistic heavy-ion collisions
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arXiv
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| Autori principali: | , , , , , , , |
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| Natura: | Preprint |
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2025
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| _version_ | 1866913702987431936 |
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| author | Liu, Lu-Meng Wang, Hai-Cheng Li, Song-Jie Zhang, Chunjian Xu, Jun Ren, Zhong-Zhou Jia, Jiangyong Huang, Xu-Guang |
| author_facet | Liu, Lu-Meng Wang, Hai-Cheng Li, Song-Jie Zhang, Chunjian Xu, Jun Ren, Zhong-Zhou Jia, Jiangyong Huang, Xu-Guang |
| contents | Can relativistic heavy-ion collisions only probe the global shape of colliding nuclei, or their detailed internal structure as well? Taking $^{20}$Ne as an example, we attempt to directly probe its internal $α$-cluster structure, by comparing experimentally measured observables in collisions at relativistic energies from density distributions of $^{20}$Ne with and without $α$-cluster structure. Since the two density distributions give the same nucleus size and deformation, they lead to similar mid-rapidity observables. However, the $α$-cluster structure may considerably reduce the free spectator nucleon yield and enhance the spectator light nuclei yield, as a result of more compact initial phase-space distribution of nucleons inside $α$ clusters. We propose to measure the scaled yield ratio of free spectator neutrons to charged particles with mass-to-charge ratio $A/Z = 3$, 3/2, and 2 in ultra-central $^{20}$Ne+$^{20}$Ne collisions, which is found to be reduced by about $25\%$ at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} = 7$ TeV and about $20\%$ at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} = 200$ GeV with $α$-cluster structure in $^{20}$Ne. This scaled yield ratio thus serves as a robust and direct probe of the existence of $α$-cluster structure in $^{20}$Ne free from the uncertainty of mid-rapidity dynamics. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2502_08057 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Directly probing existence of $α$-cluster structure in $^{20}$Ne by relativistic heavy-ion collisions Liu, Lu-Meng Wang, Hai-Cheng Li, Song-Jie Zhang, Chunjian Xu, Jun Ren, Zhong-Zhou Jia, Jiangyong Huang, Xu-Guang Nuclear Theory High Energy Physics - Experiment Nuclear Experiment Can relativistic heavy-ion collisions only probe the global shape of colliding nuclei, or their detailed internal structure as well? Taking $^{20}$Ne as an example, we attempt to directly probe its internal $α$-cluster structure, by comparing experimentally measured observables in collisions at relativistic energies from density distributions of $^{20}$Ne with and without $α$-cluster structure. Since the two density distributions give the same nucleus size and deformation, they lead to similar mid-rapidity observables. However, the $α$-cluster structure may considerably reduce the free spectator nucleon yield and enhance the spectator light nuclei yield, as a result of more compact initial phase-space distribution of nucleons inside $α$ clusters. We propose to measure the scaled yield ratio of free spectator neutrons to charged particles with mass-to-charge ratio $A/Z = 3$, 3/2, and 2 in ultra-central $^{20}$Ne+$^{20}$Ne collisions, which is found to be reduced by about $25\%$ at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} = 7$ TeV and about $20\%$ at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} = 200$ GeV with $α$-cluster structure in $^{20}$Ne. This scaled yield ratio thus serves as a robust and direct probe of the existence of $α$-cluster structure in $^{20}$Ne free from the uncertainty of mid-rapidity dynamics. |
| title | Directly probing existence of $α$-cluster structure in $^{20}$Ne by relativistic heavy-ion collisions |
| topic | Nuclear Theory High Energy Physics - Experiment Nuclear Experiment |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.08057 |