Dynamical phase trajectories for relativistic nuclear collisions

Abstract

Central collisions of gold nuclei are simulated by several existing models and the central net baryon density \ensuremath{\rho} and the energy density \ensuremath{\varepsilon} are extracted at successive times for beam kinetic energies of 5--40 GeV/nucleon. The resulting trajectories in the $(\ensuremath{\rho},\ensuremath{\varepsilon})$ phase plane are discussed from the perspective of experimentally exploring the expected first-order hadronization phase transition with the planned FAIR at GSI or in a low-energy campaign at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider.