Resonance decay dynamics and their effects on $p_T$-spectra of pions in heavy-ion collisions

Abstract

We examine the influence of resonance decay dynamics on momentum spectra of pions in heavy-ion collisions. Taking the decay $\omega \rightarrow 3 \pi$ as an example, we demonstrate how details of the decay matrix element can modify the physical observables. Such a dynamical effect is commonly neglected in statistical models. To remedy the situation, we formulate a theoretical framework for incorporating hadron dynamics into the analysis, which can be straightforwardly extended to describe general N-body decays.