Explanation of the RHIC HBT Puzzle by a Granular Source of Quark-Gluon Plasma Droplets

Abstract

We present a review on the explanation of the RHIC HBT puzzle by a granular pion-emitting source of quark-gluon plasma droplets. The evolution of the droplet is described by relativistic hydrodynamics with an equation of state suggested by lattice gauge results. The granular source evolution is obtained by superposing all of the evolutions of individual droplets. Pions are assumed to be emitted thermally from the droplets at the freeze-out configuration characterized by a freeze-out temperature $T_f$. We find that the average particle emission time scales with the initial radius of the droplet. Pions will be emitted earlier if the droplet radius is smaller. An earlier emission time will lead to a smaller extracted HBT radius $R_{\rm out}$, while the extracted HBT radius $R_{\rm side}$ is determined by the scale of the distribution of the droplet centers. However, a collective expansion of the droplets can further decrease $R_{\rm out}$. As a result, the value of $R_{\rm out}/R_{\rm side}$ can be close to, or even less than 1 for the