Probing the density dependence of the symmetry potential at low and high densities

Abstract

We investigate the sensitivity of several observables to the density dependence of the symmetry potential within the microscopic transport model UrQMD (ultrarelativistic quantum molecular dynamics model). The same systems are used to probe the symmetry potential at both low and high densities. The influence of the symmetry potentials on the yields of $\pi^{-}$, $\pi^{+}$, the $\pi^{-}/\pi^{+}$ ratio, the $n/p$ ratio of free nucleons and the $t/^3$He ratio are studied for neutron-rich heavy ion collisions ($^{208}Pb+^{208}Pb$, $^{132}Sn+^{124}Sn$, $^{96}Zr+^{96}Zr$) at $E_b=0.4A {\rm GeV}$. We find that these multiple probes provides comprehensive information on the density dependence of the symmetry potential.