Why the $a_1$ meson might be a difficult messenger for the restoration of chiral symmetry

Abstract

We perform a theoretical analysis of the $a_1$ resonance mass spectrum in ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions within a hadron/string transport approach. Predictions for the $a_1$ yield and its mass distribution are given for the GSI-FAIR and the critRHIC energy regime. The potential of the $a_1$ meson as a signal for chiral symmetry restoration is explored. In view of the latest discussion, we investigate the decay channel $a_1\to \gamma \pi$ in detail and find a strong bias towards low $a_1$ masses. This apparent mass shift of the $a_1$ if observed in the $\gamma \pi$ channel might render a possible mass shift due to chiral symmetry restoration very difficult to disentangle from the decay kinematics.

4 pages, 5 figures

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• Comprehensive Interpretation of Thermal Dileptons at the SPS
• Tau decay and the structure of the a1
• Theoretical Analysis of Dilepton Spectra in Heavy Ion Collisions at GSI-FAIR Energies
• ${\Xi }^0(1530)$ Production in Heavy-Ion Collisions \linebreak and its Implications for $\Delta t_{therm-chem}$
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Cited by in corpus (3)

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