Relativistic versus nonrelativistic quantum molecular dynamics

One of the most successful models to describe heavy ion reactions on the microscopic level is the Quantum Molecular Dynamics (QMD). At relativistic energies a covariant generalization of this model, the Relativistic Quantum Molecular Dynamics (RQMD), is available. We compare results concerning the time evolution of the phase space and particle production obtained by both methods at the intermediate energy range looking for relativistic effects in heavy ion collisions at these energies. (author)