Direct Photons in Ion Collisions at FAIR Energies

Abstract

Estimations of prompt photon production at FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research) energies using the extrapolation of existing data are presented. About $10^{-4}$ prompt $\gamma$ with $p_{t}>$2 GeV/c per Au+Au central event at 25 AGeV are expected. With the planed beam intensity $10^{9}/s$, 1% interaction rate and 10% centrality, at CBM (Compressed Baryonic Matter) experiment one can expect prompt $\gamma$ rate ~100/s. Predictions for direct photons by some generators (PYTHIA, UrQMD, RQMD, HSD, HIJING) are analyzed. One of the main sources of direct photons (due to meson scatterings $\pi\rho\to\pi\gamma, \pi\pi\to\rho\gamma$) is not implemented in the heavy-ion generators. Corresponding cross-sections for this source have been prepared for implementation into the HSD code. Main experimental methods to study direct photons (subtraction method, momentum correlations method and internal conversion method) are shortly reviewed. High intensity beam, good tracking and good $e^{\pm}$ particle identification of the CBM detector favor to measure direct photons by all the methods.