In the realm of nuclear physics, a team of researchers from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, including Pei Li, Kai-Jia Sun, Bo Zhou, and Guo-Liang Ma, have been exploring the intricate world of nuclear structure using relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Their recent study, published in the journal Physical Review Letters, sheds light on the influence of nucleon-nucleon short-range correlations (NN-SRCs) on the initial state of these collisions.
Relativistic heavy-ion collisions involve smashing heavy nuclei, such as gold or lead, at nearly the speed of light. These collisions create a hot, dense state of matter known as the quark-gluon plasma, which allows scientists to probe the fundamental properties of nuclear matter. However, the initial conditions of these collisions, which are crucial for understanding the subsequent evolution of the system, have been challenging to pin down.
The researchers found that higher-order fluctuations of the initial transverse size of the colliding nuclei, which can be directly linked to final-state mean transverse momentum fluctuations, are highly sensitive to NN-SRCs. These correlations, which describe the close interactions between nucleons (protons and neutrons) within the nucleus, can significantly alter the initial conditions of the collision. Specifically, the team observed that the third and fourth-order fluctuations, denoted as c_E/S{3} and c_E/S{4}, differ by more than 10% between systems with and without NN correlations.
Moreover, the researchers reported a universal scaling of these fluctuations with A^{-1/3}, where A is the mass number of the nucleus, and the average nuclear density. This scaling mirrors the connection between the SRC effect and the EMC effect, a phenomenon observed in electron scattering experiments that involves the modification of nucleon structure within the nucleus.
The practical applications of this research for the energy sector are not immediately apparent, as the study is primarily focused on fundamental nuclear physics. However, a deeper understanding of nuclear structure and the behavior of nuclear matter under extreme conditions can have implications for various energy-related technologies, such as nuclear reactors and nuclear fusion research. Additionally, the development of new tools for probing nuclear structure can contribute to the advancement of nuclear energy technologies.
In conclusion, the work of Li, Sun, Zhou, and Ma establishes relativistic heavy-ion collisions as a novel tool for investigating nuclear structure and constraining two-body or many-body NN interactions across different energy scales and system sizes. This research not only enhances our understanding of the fundamental properties of nuclear matter but also paves the way for potential advancements in energy technologies.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.