Dynamical simulation of bound antiproton-nuclear systems and observable signals of cold nuclear compression

Abstract

On the basis of the kinetic equation with selfconsistent relativistic mean fields acting on baryons and antibaryons, we study dynamical response of the nucleus to an antiproton implanted in its interior. By solving numerically the time-dependent Vlasov equation, we show that the compressed state is formed on a rather short time scale of about 4-10 fm/c. This justifies the assumption, that the antiproton annihilation may happen in the compressed nuclear environment. The evolution of the nucleus after antiproton annihilation is described by the same kinetic equation including collision terms. We show, that nucleon kinetic energy spectra and the total invariant mass distributions of produced mesons are quite sensitive observables to the antiproton annihilation in the compressed nucleus.