Spinodal amplification and baryon number fluctuations in nuclear collisions at NICA

Abstract

We discuss the effect of spinodal instabilities on the fluctuations of conserved flavors in nuclear collisions at NICA. We find that, when the system undergoes a phase transformation, baryon number clumping due to the mechanical instabilities in the spinodal phase occurs. This dynamical clumping enhances the cumulants of the net baryon number residing in a finite test volume of the total collision system.