Examination of STAR fixed-target data on directed flow at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=$ 3 and 4.5 GeV

Abstract

We present results of simulations of directed flow of various hadrons in Au+Au collisions at collision energies of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=$ 3 and 4.5 GeV. Simulations are performed within the model three-fluid dynamics (3FD) and the event simulator based on it (THESEUS). The results are compared with recent STAR data. The directed flows of various particles provide information on dynamics in various parts and at various stages of the colliding system depending on the particle. However, the information on the equation of state is not always directly accessible because of strong influence of the afterburner stage or insufficient equilibration of the matter. It is found that the crossover scenario gives the best overall description of the data. This crossover EoS is soft in the hadronic phase. The transition into QGP in Au+Au collisions occurs at collision energies between 3 and 4.5 GeV, at baryon densities $n_B \geq 4 n_0$ and temperatures $\approx 150$ MeV. In-medium effects in the directed flow of (anti)kaons are discussed.