Transverse energy distributions in hadron-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus collisions

The existence of quark-gluon plasma is predicted by QCD but it is not known whether big enough energy densities can be reached in heavy ion collisions. The authors have developed a simple non-plasma model for calculation of ET distributions in hadron-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus collisions. The total ET is assumed to be built up by the independent contributions of nucleon-nucleon collisions similar to proton-proton collisions at the same energy in what concerns rapidity distribution of produced hadrons and their transverse energy distribution. The calculation of ET distributions is based on the determination of three probability distributions. The total number N of nucleon-nucleon collisions at a given impact parameter is determined. Then the probability for the production of the total number of hadrons nh is estimated. Finally the probability for the production of the total transverse energy in a given event is determined. The product of the three probabilities is then integrated over all possible impact parameters and summed over all values of N and nh to obtain the differential cross section. 4 figs., 5 refs