Source Imaging in Heavy-Ion Reactions

Source imaging is a novel approach to the analysis of two-particle correlations from heavy-ion collisions. The traditional approach to such analyses consists of two steps:

• Correct for final state interactions.
• Fit a Gaussian to the resulting correlation, giving an estimate of the source size.

The traditional approach fails if (a) either one can not correct for final state interactions or (b) the source is non-Gaussian. Thus, the traditional approach can not be used for strongly interacting particles, such as protons.

The imaging approach actually takes advantage of the final state interactions to perform a model independent extraction of the source. Thus, we need not make any assumption about the source shape. For more information about two particle correlations or source imaging, see our introduction page.

The source imaging may be performed using a set of codes developed in part at Livermore and Michigan State University. These codes are called HBTprogs and are available for download.

Related Links:

• Introduction to Source Imaging
• HBTprogs-v1.0
• LLNL PHENIX Page
• STAR HBT Working Group

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May 30, 2002. For information about this page, contact David Brown UCRL-WEB-148721