Probing the high density behavior of the nuclear symmetry energy with high energy heavy-ion collisions.
High energy heavy-ion collisions are proposed as a novel means to constrain stringently the high density (HD) behavior of nuclear symmetry energy. Within an isospin-dependent hadronic transport model, it is shown for the first time that the isospin asymmetry of the HD nuclear matter formed in high energy heavy-ion collisions is uniquely determined by the HD behavior of the nuclear symmetry energy. Experimental signatures in two sensitive probes, i.e., pi(-) to pi(+) ratio and neutron-proton differential collective flow, are also investigated.
Li
Bao-An
BA
Department of Chemistry and Physics, P.O. Box 419, Arkansas State University, State University, Arkansas 72467-0419, USA. Bali@astate.edu