Net Charge Fluctuations in $\mathrm{A}\mathrm{u}+\mathrm{A}\mathrm{u}$ Interactions at $\sqrt{{s}_{NN}}=130\text{ }\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}$

Net Charge Fluctuations in $A u + A u$ Interactions at $\sqrt{s_{N N}} = 130 G e V$

K. Adcox et al. (PHENIX Collaboration)

Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 082301 – Published 5 August 2002

Abstract

Data from $Au + Au$ interactions at $\sqrt{s_{N N}} = 130 GeV$ , obtained with the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider, are used to investigate local net charge fluctuations among particles produced near midrapidity. According to recent suggestions, such fluctuations may carry information from the quark-gluon plasma. This analysis shows that the fluctuations are dominated by a stochastic distribution of particles, but are also sensitive to other effects, like global charge conservation and resonance decays.