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Non-Gaussian Fluctuations near the QCD Critical Point

M. A. Stephanov
Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 032301 – Published 20 January 2009
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Abstract

We study the effect of the QCD critical point on non-Gaussian moments (cumulants) of fluctuations of experimental observables in heavy-ion collisions. We find that these moments are very sensitive to the proximity of the critical point, as measured by the magnitude of the correlation length ξ. For example, the cubic central moment of multiplicity (δN)3ξ4.5 and the quartic cumulant (δN)4cξ7. We estimate the magnitude of critical point contributions to non-Gaussian fluctuations of pion and proton multiplicities.

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  • Received 30 September 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.032301

©2009 American Physical Society

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Finding the critical point in quark-gluon plasma

Published 20 January 2009

The critical point is one of the main features of the phase diagram of strongly interacting quark-gluon matter. Finding this critical point in the lab will require luck and an understanding of the possible experimental signatures.

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Authors & Affiliations

M. A. Stephanov

  • Department of Physics, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA

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Issue

Vol. 102, Iss. 3 — 23 January 2009

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