Forward-backward correlations in nucleus-nucleus collisions: Baseline contributions from geometrical fluctuations

We discuss the effects of initial collision geometry and centrality bin definition on correlation and fluctuation observables in nucleus-nucleus collisions. We focus on the forward-backward correlation coefficient recently measured by the STAR Collaboration in Au+Au collisions at RHIC. Our study is...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review. C, Nuclear physics Nuclear physics, 2009-03, Vol.79 (3), Article 034910
Main Authors: Konchakovski, V. P., Hauer, M., Torrieri, G, Gorenstein, M. I., Bratkovskaya, E. L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
BROOKHAVEN RHIC
COLLISIONS
CORRELATIONS
FLUCTUATIONS
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
STARS
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We discuss the effects of initial collision geometry and centrality bin definition on correlation and fluctuation observables in nucleus-nucleus collisions. We focus on the forward-backward correlation coefficient recently measured by the STAR Collaboration in Au+Au collisions at RHIC. Our study is carried out within two models: the Glauber Monte Carlo code with a 'toy' wounded-nucleon model and the hadron-string dynamics (HSD) transport approach. We show that strong correlations can arise from averaging over events in one centrality bin. We, furthermore, argue that a study of the dependence of correlations on the centrality bin definition as well as the bin size may distinguish between these trivial correlations and correlations arising from new physics.
ISSN:0556-2813
1089-490X
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevC.79.034910