Two-stage equilibration in high energy heavy ion collisions
Abstract
Using the (lowest-order) perturbative QCD, we argue that high energy heavy-ion collisions proceed via two stages: equilibration of gluons takes time τg~1/2 fm/c, while production and equilibration of quarks needs time at least τq~2 fm/c. If so, the initial gluon plasma is much hotter than usually estimated, Tg~400 MeV, which leads to enhanced charm production and significant modifications of other proposed signals.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- June 1992
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.68.3270
- Bibcode:
- 1992PhRvL..68.3270S
- Keywords:
-
- 25.75.+r;
- 12.38.Bx;
- 24.60.Ky;
- 24.85.+p;
- Perturbative calculations;
- Fluctuation phenomena;
- Quarks gluons and QCD in nuclei and nuclear processes