<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:msup><mml:mi>K</mml:mi><mml:mrow><mml:mo>*</mml:mo><mml:mn>0</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:msup></mml:math> meson production using a transport and a statistical hadronization model at energies covered by the RHIC beam energy scan

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the centrality and energy dependence of ${K}^{*0}$ resonance production using ultrarelativistic quantum molecular dynamics (UrQMD) and thermal models. The ${K}^{*0}/K$ ratios obtained from the UrQMD and thermal models are compared with measurements done by the STAR experiment in $\text{Au}+\text{Au}$ collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{NN}}=7.7$, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27, and 39 GeV. The ${K}^{*0}/K$ ratio from the thermal model is consistent with data in most-peripheral collisions, however it overpredicts the ratio in central $\text{Au}+\text{Au}$ collisions. This could be due to the fact that the thermal model does not have a hadronic rescattering phase, which is expected to be dominant in more central collisions. Furthermore, we have studied the ${K}^{*0}/K$ ratio from UrQMD by varying the hadron propagation time ($\ensuremath{\tau}$) within the range 5 to 50 fm/$c$. It was found that the ${K}^{*0}/K$ ratio decreases with increasing $\ensuremath{\tau}$. Comparison between data and UrQMD suggest one needs to consider $\ensuremath{\tau}\ensuremath{\approx}$ 10--50 fm/$c$ to explain data at $\sqrt{{s}_{NN}}=7.7$--39 GeV in $\text{Au}+\text{Au}$ collisions. We also predict the rapidity distribution of ${K}^{*0}$ from UrQMD, which could be measured in the STAR beam energy scan phase II (BES-II) program.

Topics & Concepts