Evidence for a long-range component in the pion emission source in Au+Au collisions at sqrt sNN=200 GeV

Phys Rev Lett. 2007 Mar 30;98(13):132301. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.132301. Epub 2007 Mar 26.

Abstract

Emission source functions are extracted from correlation functions constructed from charged pions produced at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV. The source parameters extracted from these functions at low k(T) give first indications of a long tail for the pion emission source. The source extension cannot be explained solely by simple kinematic considerations. The possible role of a halo of secondary pions from resonance emissions is explored.