Parton Hadron Quantum Molecular Dynamics (PHQMD) -- a Novel Microscopic N-Body Transport Approach for Heavy-Ion Dynamics and Hypernuclei Production

We present the novel microscopic n-body dynamical transport approach PHQMD(Parton-Hadron-Quantum-Molecular-Dynamics) for the description of particle production and cluster formation in heavy-ion reactions at relativistic energies. The PHQMD extends the established PHSD (Parton-Hadron-String-Dynamics) transport approach by replacing the mean field by density dependent two body interactions in a similar way as in the Quantum Molecular Dynamics (QMD) models. This allows for the calculation of the time evolution of the n-body Wigner density and therefore for a dynamical description of clusters and hypernuclei formation. The clusters are identified with the MST (Minimum Spanning Tree) or the SACA (Simulated Annealing Cluster Algorithm) algorithm which - by regrouping the nucleons in single nucleons and noninteracting clusters - finds the most bound configuration of nucleons and clusters. The selected results on clusters and hypernuclei production from Ref. arXiv:1907.03860 are discussed in this contribution.

The PHQMD model for the formation of nuclear clusters and hypernuclei in heavy-ion collisions

Modeling of the process of the formation of nuclear clusters in the hot nuclear matter is a challenging task. We present the novel n-body dynamical transport approach - PHQMD (Parton-Hadron-Quantum-Molecular Dynamics) [1] for the description of heavy-ion collisions as well as clusters and hpernuclei formation. The PHQMD extends well established PHSD (Parton-Hadron-String Dynamics) approach - which incorporates explicit partonic degrees-of-freedom (quarks and gluons), an equation-of-state from lattice QCD, as well as dynamical hadronization and hadronic elastic and inelastic collisions in the final reaction phase, by n-body quantum molecular dynamic propagation of hadrons which allows choosing of the equation of state with different compression modulus. The formation of clusters, including hypernuclei, is realized by incorporation the Simulated Annealing Clusterization Algorithm (SACA). We present first results from PHQMD on the study of the production rates of strange hadrons, nuclear clusters and hypernuclei in e1elementary and heavy-ion collisions at NICA energies. In particular, sensitivity on the hard and soft equation of state within the PHQMD model was investigated for bulk observables.

Parton-Hadron-Quantum-Molecular Dynamics (PHQMD) -- A Novel Microscopic N-Body Transport Approach for Heavy-Ion Collisions, Dynamical Cluster Formation and Hypernuclei Production

Cluster and hypernuclei production in heavy-ion collisions is presently under active experimental and theoretical investigation. Since clusters are weekly bound objects, their production is very sensitive to the dynamical evolution of the system and its interactions. The theoretical description of cluster formation is related to the n-body problem. Here we present the novel n-body dynamical transport approach PHQMD (Parton-Hadron-Quantum-Molecular Dynamics) which is designed to provide a microscopic description of nuclear cluster and hypernucleus formation as well as of general particle production in heavy-ion reactions at relativistic energies. In difference to the coalescence or statistical models, often used for the cluster formation, in PHQMD clusters are formed dynamically due to the interactions between baryons described on a basis of Quantum Molecular Dynamics (QMD)which allows to propagate the n-body Wigner density and n-body correlations in phase-space, essential for the cluster formation. The clusters are identified by the MST (Minimum Spanning Tree) or the SACA (Simulated Annealing Cluster Algorithm) algorithm which finds the most bound configuration of nucleons and clusters. Collisions among hadrons as well as Quark-Gluon-Plasma formation and parton dynamics in PHQMD are treated in the same way as in the established PHSD (Parton-Hadron-String Dynamics)transport approach. In order to verify our approach with respect to the general dynamics we present here the first PHQMD results for general bulk observables such as rapidity distributions and transverse mass spectra for hadrons ($pi, K, bar K, p, bar p, Lambda, bar Lambda$) from SIS to RHIC energies. We find a good description of the bulk dynamics which allows us to proceed with the results on cluster production, including hypernuclei.

FRIGA, A New Approach To Identify Isotopes and Hyper-nuclei In N-Body Transport Models

We present a new approach to identify fragments in computer simulations of relativistic heavy ion collisions. It is based on the simulated annealing technique and can be applied to n-body transport models like the Quantum Molecular Dynamics. This new approach is able to predict isotope yields as well as hyper-nucleus production. In order to illustrate its predicting power, we confront this new method with experimental data and show the sensitivity on the parameters which govern the cluster formation.

Influence of final-state radiation on heavy-flavour observables in pp collisions

The influence of final-state radiation (FSR) of heavy quarks on observables in high-energy proton-proton collisions is studied. The transverse momentum correlation of D and Dbar mesons, which have been emitted with an azimuthal difference angle close to 180 degrees, is identified as an observable which is sensitive to the FSR process. We demonstrate this by performing calculations with the EPOS3+HQ model and with the event generator Pythia 6. The initial symmetric pT = pT correlation for back-to-back pairs does not completely vanish in EPOS3+HQ, neither for the final DDbar pairs nor for the ccbar pairs before hadronisation. Also a significant difference in the shape of the correlation distribution for EPOS3+HQ and Pythia 6 is observed. Therefore, particle correlations in pp data offer the possibility to study several aspects of energy loss in heavy-ion collisions.

Heavy-flavor production and medium properties in high-energy nuclear collisions - What next?

Open and hidden heavy-flavor physics in high-energy nuclear collisions are entering a new and exciting stage towards reaching a clearer understanding of the new experimental results with the possibility to link them directly to the advancement in lattice Quantum Chromo-dynamics (QCD). Recent results from experiments and theoretical developments regarding open and hidden heavy-flavor dynamics have been debated at the Lorentz Workshop Tomography of the quark-gluon plasma with heavy quarks}, which was held in October 2016 in Leiden, the Netherlands. In this contribution, we summarize identified common understandings and developed strategies for the upcoming five years, which aim at achieving a profound knowledge of the dynamical properties of the quark-gluon plasma.

FRIGA, A New Approach To Identify Isotopes and Hypernuclei In N-Body Transport Models

We present a new algorithm to identify fragments in computer simulations of relativistic heavy ion collisions. It is based on the simulated annealing technique and can be applied to n-body transport models like the Quantum Molecular Dynamics. This new approach is able to predict isotope yields as well as hyper-nucleus production. In order to illustrate its predicting power, we confront this new method to experimental data, and show the sensitivity on the parameters which govern the cluster formation.

Radiative and Collisional Energy Loss of Heavy Quarks in Deconfined Matter

We extend our recently advanced model on collisional energy loss of heavy quarks in a quark gluon plasma (QGP) by including radiative energy loss. We discuss the approach and present calculations for PbPb collisions at $sqrt{s}=2.76 TeV$. The transverse momentum spectra, RAA, and the elliptic flow $v_2$ of heavy quarks have been obtained using the model of Kolb and Heinz for the hydrodynamical expansion of the plasma.

K+ and K- potentials in hadronic matter are observable quantities

The comparison of $K^+$ and $K^-$ spectra at low transverse momentum in light symmetric heavy ion reactions at energies around 2 AGeV allows for a direct experimental determination of the strength of the $K^+$ as well as of t he $K^-$ nucleus potential. Other little known or unknown input quantities like the production or rescattering cross sections of $K^+$ and $K^-$ mesons do not spoil this signal. This result, obtained by simulations of these reactio ns with the Isospin Quantum Molecular Dynamics (IQMD) model, may solve the longstanding question of the behaviour of the $K^-$ in hadronic matter and especially whether a $K^-$ condensate can be formed in heavy ion collisions.

Competition of Heavy Quark Radiative and Collisional Energy Loss in Deconfined Matter

We extend our recently advanced model on collisional energy loss of heavy quarks in a quark gluon plasma (QGP) by including radiative energy loss. We discuss the approach and present first preliminary results. We show that present data on nuclear modification factor of non photonic single electrons hardly permit to distinguish between those 2 energy loss mechanisms.