Diomega production in relativistic heavy ion collisions

Abstract

Using a multiphase transport model, we study the production of a new strange dibaryon (\Omega\Omega)_{0+} in dense hadronic matter formed in relativistic heavy ion collisions. The (multi-)strange baryons (\Xi and \Omega) are produced by strangeness-exchange reactions between antikaons and hyperons in the pure hadronic phase. The rescattering between the omegas at midrapidity leads to a production probability of \simeq 3x10^{-7} (\Omega\Omega)_{0+} per event at the RHIC energy of \sqrt s=130A GeV. The production probability would be enhanced by two orders of magnitude if (\Omega\Omega)_{0+} and omega reach chemical equilibrium during heavy ion collisions. We further find that the yield of (\Omega\Omega)_{0+} increases continuously from SPS to the highest RHIC energy.