We study solutions to the hydrodynamic equations appropriate for ultrarelativistic nuclear collisions. We find that the matter produced in such collisions spends time t>30 fm/c at temperatures larger than 150 MeV. The transverse momentum of protons, kaons, and pions is computed in the central region of ultrarelativistic nuclear collisions. Assuming Bjorken’s initial conditions for the hydrodynamic equations, and a bag-model equation of state, we show that the transverse-momentum distribution as a function of dN/dy does reflect properties of the equation of state. We demonstrate that such a distribution approximately scales as a function of (1/A)dN/dy. The relation between $p_t$ and dN/dy is shown to be significantly altered under different assumptions about the equation of state. The transverse-momentum distribution of heavy hadrons is shown to be much enhanced relative to that of light pions. These distributions are little changed by differences in the assumptions about the initial transverse density and velocity profile. We are unable to fit the observed correlation between $p_t$ and dE/dy observed in the Japanese-American Cooperative Emulsion Experiment.

• Received 28 May 1986

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.34.2755