Central and Non-central HBT from AGS to RHIC

Abstract

We review the status of particle interferometry in ultra-relativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions. The theoretical focus is on the model-independent space-time interpretation of HBT radius parameters and its extension to the geometrical and dynamical asymmetries generated in finite impact parameter collisions. On the experimental side, we give a complete account of all presently available data for beam energies above 2 AGeV. We discuss what these data imply for the dynamics and space-time extension of the collision region and for the condition under which particles decouple from this region.

Comments: 63 pages LaTex, 16 eps figures, invited review for "Quark Gluon Plasma 3", eds. R.C.Hwa and X.-N.Wang, World Scientific extended discussion of non-central HBT, minor corrections to improve clarity, updated references