Critical Fluctuations at RHIC

Abstract

On the basis of universal scaling properties, we claim that in Au+Au collisions at RHIC, the QCD critical point is within reach. The signal turns out to be an extended plateau of net baryons in rapidity with approximate height of the net-baryon rapidity density approximately 15 and a strong intermittency pattern with index s_2=1/6 in rapidity fluctuations. A window also exists, to reach the critical point at the SPS, especially in Si+Si collisions at maximal energy.

Comments: 8 pages, 3 figures