Abstract
We compute net-proton probability distributions in heavy ion collisions within the hadron resonance gas model. The model results are compared with data taken by the STAR Collaboration in Au-Au collisions at GeV for different centralities and for the central energy bin at GeV. We show that, in central Au-Au collisions at GeV, the measured distribution is consistent with the hadron resonance gas model but differs from the predictions of the model at GeV. At the highest energy, deviations from model results are smaller for peripheral collisions. We argue that such properties of probability distributions are expected if the freeze-out conditions probed by fluctuations are located close to the QCD crossover transition.
- Received 22 July 2011
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.84.064911
©2011 American Physical Society