Pion Lattices in HI Transverse Phase Space and Sudden Traversal of the QCD Phase Boundary

Abstract

Correlation data from high-energy p-p collisions indicate substantial anticorrelation of like-sign pions and correlation of unlike-sign pions on rapidity and azimuth at small length scale suggesting approach to a 1D lattice structure during string hadronization. I generalize this result to propose that an {\em incipient} 3D pion lattice structure may be formed during hadronization of a QGP. I then present a method to detect this structure in the transverse phase space of heavy-ion collisions which depends on local transverse Hubble flow. I also relate this correlation structure to recently proposed suppression of net charge and baryon-number fluctuations on rapidity after sudden traversal of the QCD phase boundary.

Comments: 6 pages, 2 figures