Computer simulation of reaction plane memory via quasiparticle dynamics.

Abstract

Quasiparticle dynamics, a computer simulation for nuclear reactions, is used to investigate reaction plane memory in intermediate-energy heavy-ion collisions. In particular, extensive simulations involving the generation of more than 20 000 events are performed for $^{14}\mathrm{Sm}$ at 35A MeV. The gamma-ray circular polarization, as a function of trigger mass, energy, and angle, is shown to be a measure of the correlation between the trigger plane and the reaction plane. Calculations of the inclusive particle spectrum, as well as the polarization, are compared with experiment. The dependence of the calculated observables on the assumed in-medium nucleon-nucleon cross section is also investigated.