Net-baryon scaling near the QCD critical point

Abstract

The net-baryon density at midrapidity is proposed as an order parameter in the search for the QCD critical point in heavy ion collisions. As a function of the initial energy and the total number of participants, this quantity obeys a scaling law, dictated by the critical exponents of the appropriate universality class. The corresponding scaling variable specifies the proximity of a given experiment to the critical point. Within this framework, measurements at the SPS are discussed and predictions for RHIC and LHC are extracted.