Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 1295–1298 (1999)Elliptic Flow: Transition from Out-of-Plane to In-Plane Emission in Au + Au CollisionsReceived 21 September 1998; published in the issue dated 16 August 1999 We have measured the proton elliptic flow excitation function for the Au+Au system spanning the beam energy range (2–8)AGeV. The excitation function shows a transition from negative to positive elliptic flow at a beam energy, Etr∼4AGeV. Detailed comparisons with calculations from a relativistic Boltzmann equation are presented. The comparisons suggest a softening of the nuclear equation of state from a stiff form ( K∼380 MeV) at low beam energies ( Ebeam≤2AGeV) to a softer form ( K∼210 MeV) at higher energies ( Ebeam≥4AGeV) where the calculated baryon density ρ∼4ρ0. © 1999 The American Physical Society URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.1295
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.1295
PACS:
25.75.Ld, 21.65.+f, 24.10.Jv
|
|
About | Terms and Conditions | Subscriptions | Search | Help
Use of the American Physical Society websites and journals implies that the user has read and agrees to our Terms and Conditions and any applicable Subscription Agreement. Physical Review®, Physical Review Letters®, Reviews of Modern Physics®, and Physical Review Special Topics® are trademarks of the American Physical Society.