The vector probe in heavy-ion reactions

2004/09/23 by Ralf Rapp
Physics and Astronomy · #Heavy ion #High-Energy Particle Collisions Research #Ion #Meson #Nuclear physics #Omega #Particle physics #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #Photon #Physics #Plasma #Quantum Chromodynamics and Particle Interactions #Quantum mechanics #Quark–gluon plasma #Thermal #Vector meson #Virtual particle #nucl-th

paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/0954-3899/31/4/027

published as J.Phys. G31 (2005) S217-S230 · Invited Talk at the Hot Quarks 2004 Workshop, July 18-24, 2004 (Taos Valley, NM, USA), 15 pages latex incl 14 figs and iop style files, to appear in the proceedings

arxiv created 2004/09/23 · openalex publication_date 2005/03/18 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

We review essential elements in using the J^P=1^- channel as a probe for hot and dense matter as produced in (ultra-) relativistic collisions of heavy nuclei. The uniqueness of the vector channel resides in the fact that it directly couples to photons, both real and virtual (dileptons), enabling the study of thermal radiation and in-medium effects on both light (\ρ, \ω, \φ) and heavy (\Ψ, \Υ) vector mesons. We emphasize the importance of interrelations between photons and dileptons, and characterize relevant energy/mass regimes through connections to Quark-Gluon-Plasma emission and chiral symmetry restoration. Based on critical analysis of our current understanding of data from fixed-target energies, we identify open key questions to be addressed.

Citations

• Can dileptons be observed in heavy ion collisions at relativistic heavy ion collider energies?
• Coupling of baryon resonances to the Nω channel
• The Δ(1232) at RHIC
• Short-lived phgr mesons
• Electromagnetic radiation from relativistic nuclear collisions
• JET QUENCHING AND RADIATIVE ENERGY LOSS IN DENSE NUCLEAR MATTER
• Production of intermediate-mass dileptons in relativistic heavy ion collisions
• Photon emission from quark-gluon plasma: complete leading order results
• Low-mass dileptons and dropping rho meson mass
• Theoretical overview on (hidden) charm in high-energy heavy-ion collisions
• Can Binary Bound States in a Strongly Coupled Quark-Gluon Plasma be observed via dileptons and photons?
• Microscopic models for ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions
• Dileptons in high-energy heavy-ion collisions
• Hydrodynamic description of ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions
• Partonic coalescence in relativistic heavy ion collisions