Search for QGP and Thermal Freeze-out of Strange Hadrons

Abstract

After reviewing the observables of QGP we perform an analysis of m_T spectra of strange hadrons measured as function of centrality in 156AGeV Pb--Pb interactions. We show that there is a good agreement between the chemical and thermal freeze-out conditions, providing additional evidence for the formation and sudden disintegration of a supercooled QGP fireball.

Comments: 9 pages including 11+2 figure;, the discussion of statistical significance of our analysis has been greatly expanded per referee request; submitted to special volume of New Journal of Physics