Search for the QCD Critical Point by Transverse Velocity Dependence of Anti-deuteron to Deuteron Ratio

Abstract

We propose the transverse velocity ($β_T$) dependence of the anti-deuteron to deuteron ratio as a new observable to search for the QCD critical point in heavy-ion collisions. The QCD critical point can attract the system evolution trajectory in the QCD phase diagram, which is known as focusing effect. To quantify this effect, we employ thermal model and hadronic transport model to simulate the dynamical particle emission along a hypothetical focusing trajectory near critical point. We found the focusing effect can lead to anomalous $β_T$ dependence of $\bar{p}/p$, $\bar{d}/d$ and $^3\overline{\text{He}}/^3\text{He}$ ratios. We examined the $β_T$ dependence of $\bar{p}/p$ and $\bar{d}/d$ ratios of central Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 7.7 to 200 GeV measured by the STAR experiment at RHIC. Surprisingly, we only observe a negative slope in $β_T$ dependence of $\bar{d}/d$ ratio at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 19.6 GeV, which indicates the trajectory evolution has passed through the critical region. In the future, we could constrain the location of the critical point and/or width of the critical region by making precise measurements on the $β_T$ dependence of $\bar{d}/d$ ratio at different energies and rapidity.