Collective flow of protons and negative pions in nucleus–nucleus collisions at momentum of [formula omitted

Abstract

Collective flow of protons and negative pions has been studied within the beam momentum region of 4.2 – 4.5 A GeV / c ( E = 3.4 – 3.7 A GeV ) for different projectile-target combinations involving carbon and, specifically, for He–C, C–C, C–Ne, C–Cu and C–Ta. The data stem from the SKM-200-GIBS streamer chamber and from Propane Bubble Chamber systems utilized at JINR. The directed flow of protons grows dramatically in the carbon region when the counterpart nucleus grows in mass between He and Ta. The elliptic proton flow points out of the reaction plane and also strengthens as system mass increases. Within the reaction plane, the negative pions flow in the same direction as protons for the lighter of the investigated systems, He–C, C–C and C–Ne, and in the opposite direction for the heavier, C–Cu and C–Ta. The Quark–Gluon String Model reproduces observed changes in the flow with system mass.