Evolution of the hot dense matter at LHC energies through light and heavy-flavor hadrons using non-extensive thermodynamics

Abstract

We investigate the formation and evolution of hot systems comprising charmed and light hadrons using non-extensive thermodynamics. We analyze data from pp, p--Pb, and Pb--Pb collisions at center-of-mass energies ranging from $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$~TeV to 13~TeV, measured by the CERN LHC ALICE experiment. The hadron species examined include charged pions and kaons, ${\rm K}^0_{\rm s}$, (anti)protons, $\phi$ mesons, $\Lambda^0$ hyperons, and D mesons. Employing our previously established methods, we determine the common Tsallis parameters $T_{\rm eq}$ and $q_{\rm eq}$ for each hadron type. While charm comes from earlier than light hadrons, we see that $T_{\rm eq}$ is ordered by mass, reflecting a similar ordering in the time-scale relevant for the spectrum. Our results also allow for constraining the heat capacity of the system. The current analysis thus enhances our understanding of hadron production dynamics and thermal properties in high-energy collisions.