Transverse energy dependence of dilepton production in nuclear collisions as a signature of quark-gluon plasma formation

Abstract

The dependence of dilepton production on total transverse energy in nuclear collisions is proposed as a signature of quark- gluon plasma formation. In particular the ratio of dilepton production in central (large transverse energy) to that in peripheral (low transverse energy) gives information about the presence of hydrodynamical space-time evolution of the quark-gluon plasma or of a mixed phase.