Hydrodynamic description of spectra at high transverse mass in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions

Abstract

Transverse mass spectra of pions and protons measured in central collisions of heavy ions at the SPS and at RHIC are compared to a hydrodynamic parameterization. While the chemical temperature needed at RHIC is significantly higher compared to SPS, the spectra may be described using kinetic freeze-out parameters which are similar for both beam energies. At RHIC either the temperature or the flow velocity is higher, but the data provide no unambiguous proof for much stronger transverse flow. The contribution of such hydrodynamic emission at high transverse momenta is investigated in detail. It is shown that hydrodynamics may be relevant up to relatively high transverse momenta. The importance of the velocity profile used in this context is highlighted.