Abstract
On the basis of the kinetic equation with self-consistent relativistic mean fields acting on baryons and antibaryons, we study dynamical response of the nucleus to an antiproton implanted in its interior. By solving numerically the time-dependent Vlasov equation, we show that the compressed state is formed on a rather short time scale of about 4–10 fm/c. This justifies the assumption, that the antiproton annihilation may happen in the compressed nuclear environment. The evolution of the nucleus after antiproton annihilation is described by the same kinetic equation including collision terms. We show, that nucleon kinetic energy spectra and the total invariant mass distributions of produced mesons are quite sensitive observables to the antiproton annihilation in the compressed nucleus.
5 More- Received 18 February 2008
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.78.014604
©2008 American Physical Society
Synopsis
All is FAIR for the antiproton
Published 17 July 2008
When an antiproton is fired into an atomic nucleus, will it live long enough for the nucleus to respond to the attractive strong force between the antiproton and the protons and neutrons? Calculations suggest that it would and predict the experimental signatures of an antiproton annihilating in a locally compressed nucleus.
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