Comparison of the space-time extent of the emission source in $d$$+$Au and Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{{NN}}}=200$ GeV

Abstract

Two-pion interferometry measurements in $d$$+$Au and Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{{NN}}}=200$ GeV are used to extract and compare the Gaussian source radii R$_{{\rm out}}$, R$_{{\rm side}}$, and R$_{{\rm long}}$, which characterize the space-time extent of the emission sources. The comparisons, which are performed as a function of collision centrality and the mean transverse momentum for pion pairs, indicate strikingly similar patterns for the $d$$+$Au and Au$+$Au systems. They also indicate a linear dependence of R$_{{\rm side}}$ on the initial transverse geometric size $\bar{R}$, as well as a smaller freeze-out size for the $d$$+$Au system. These patterns point to the important role of final-state rescattering effects in the reaction dynamics of $d$$+$Au collisions.