arXiv subjects

Lizhu Chen

Publications and source records attributed to Lizhu Chen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Model Study of Eigen-Microstate Signatures of Criticality in Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collisions

We present a comprehensive model study of the eigen-microstate approach (EMA) for identifying critical fluctuations in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Using UrQMD and two stochastic baseline models, we demonstrate that EMA is insensitive to conventional short-range correlations and effectively filters out non-critical backgrounds. Critical fluctuations embedded via event-level or particle-level replacement with CMC events generate characteristic cluster-like eigen-microstate patterns and enhanced leading eigenvalues, with event-level criticality producing stronger responses. The eigen microstates exhibit the same pattern across different scales, demonstrating that the fractal nature of critical fluctuations is captured by the eigen microstates. Finite-size scaling of eigenvalue ratios exhibits fixed-point behavior, confirming the largest eigenvalue as an effective order-parameter-like quantity. These results demonstrate that EMA offers a robust and background-independent method for critical-point searches in the RHIC Beam Energy Scan and future heavy-ion experiments.

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arXiv2025

Relaxation behavior near the first-order phase transition line

Using the Metropolis algorithm, we simulate the relaxation process of the three-dimensional kinetic Ising model. Starting from a random initial configuration, we first present the average equilibration time across the entire phase boundary. It is observed that the average equilibration time increases significantly as the temperature decreases far from the critical temperature $T_{\rm c}$. The average equilibration time along the first-order phase transition (1st-PT) line exhibits an ultra-slow relaxation. We also investigate the dynamic scaling behavior with system sizes, and find that dynamic scaling holds not only near $T_{\rm c}$, but also at $T\ll T_{\rm c}$. The dynamic exponent at $T\ll T_{\rm c}$ is larger than that near $T_{\rm c}$. Additionally, we analyze the dynamic scaling of the average autocorrelation time and find that it depends on system size only near $T_{\rm c}$, while it becomes size-independent both above and below $T_{\rm c}$. The extremely slow relaxation dynamics observed near the 1st-PT is attributed to the complex structure of the free energy.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2025

Several problems on the measured hyperorder cumulants of net-proton distributions in heavy-ion collisions

Hyperorder cumulants $C_5/C_1$ and $C_6/C_2$ are recommended as sensitive observables to explore the QCD phase transition in heavy-ion collisions. Precisely measuring their results remains a difficult task in experiments, when employing the Centrality Bin Width Correction (CBWC) to suppress the initial volume fluctuations. Various techniques within the CBWC formula can lead to notable differences in the results. We will systematically investigate the application of the CBWC method to the measured net-proton $C_5/C_1$ and $C_6/C_2$ using the UrQMD model and Skellam-based simulations at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 11.5 GeV in Au + Au collisions. A recommended approach is proposed to calculate $C_5/C_1$ and $C_6/C_2$ in 0-40\% centrality. With statistics comparable to the RHIC Beam Energy Scan phase II (BES-II), our studies provide a baseline for analyzing net-proton $C_5/C_1$ and $C_6/C_2$ in relativistic heavy-ion collisions.

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arXiv2024

Impact of Limited Statistics on the Measured Hyper-Order Cumulants of Net-Proton Distributions in Heavy-Ion Collisions

Hyper-order cumulants $C_5/C_1$ and $C_6/C_2$ of net-baryon distributions are anticipated to offer crucial insights into the phase transition from quark-gluon plasma to hadronic matter in heavy-ion collisions. However, the accuracy of $C_5$ and $C_6$ is highly contingent on the fine shape of the distribution's tail, the detectable range of which could be essentially truncated by low statistics. In this paper, we use the fast Skellam-based simulations, as well as the Ultrarelativistic Quantum Molecular Dynamics model, to assess the impact of limited statistics on the measurements of $C_5/C_1$ and $C_6/C_2$ of net-proton distributions at lower RHIC energies. Both ratios decrease from the unity baseline as we reduce statistics, and could even turn negative without a pertinent physics mechanism. By incorporating statistics akin to experimental data, we can replicate the net-proton $C_5/C_1$ and $C_6/C_2$ values comparable to the corresponding measurements for Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} =$ 7.7, 11.5 and 14.5 GeV. Our findings underscore a caveat to the interpretation of the observed beam energy dependence of hyper-order cumulants.

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arXiv2021

Critical properties of various sizes of cluster in the Ising percolation transition

It is proposed that the $O(n)$ spin and geometrical percolation models can help to study the QCD phase diagram due to the universality properties of the phase transition. In this paper, correlations and fluctuations of various sizes of cluster in the Ising model are systematically studied. With a finite size system, we demonstrate how to use the finite size scaling and fixed point behavior to search for critical point. At critical point, the independency of system size is found from skewness and kurtosis of the maximum, second and third largest cluster and their correlations. It is similar to the Binder-ratio, which has provided a remarkable identification of the critical point. Through an explanation of the universal characteristic of skewness and kurtosis of the order parameter, a possible application to the relativistic heavy-ion collisions is also discussed.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Subtracting non-critical fluctuations in higher cumulants of conserved charges

Using the sample produced by the AMPT default model, we construct a corresponding mixed sample by the method of mixed events. The mixed sample provides an effective estimation for non-critical fluctuations which are caused by global and systematic effects. The dynamical cumulants of conserved charges are defined as the cumulants of the original sample minus the cumulants of the mixed sample. It is demonstrated that dynamical cumulants are subtracted statistical fluctuations, and centrality bin width or detection efficiency independent, in consistent with formulae corrected cumulants. Therefore, dynamical cumulants are helpful in obtaining critical fluctuations at the RHIC BES.

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arXiv2019

Locating fixed points in the phase plane

The critical point is a fixed point in finite-size scaling. To quantify the behaviour of such a fixed point, we define, at a given temperature and scaling exponent ratio, the width of scaled observables for different sizes. The minimum of the width reveals the position of fixed point, its corresponding phase transition temperature, and scaling exponent ratio. The value of this ratio tells the nature of fixed point, which can be a critical point, a point of the first order phase transition line, or a point of the crossover region. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this method, we apply it to three typical samples produced by the 3D three-state Potts model. Results show the method to be more precise and effective than conventional methods. Finally, we discuss a possible application at the beam energy scan program of relativistic heavy-Ion collision.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

The method of mixed events for higher cumulants of conserved charges

Higher cumulants of conserved charges are sensitive observables of quantum chromodynamics phase transitions. The sample of mixed events provides a background to estimate non-critical effects of cumulants. Four possible methods for constructing the sample of mixed events are suggested. The effectiveness of each method is examined. It is showed that the method of most random or least constrain is the best, rather than the conventional method.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

Poisson baseline of net-charge fluctuations in the relativistic heavy ion collisions

Taking doubly charged particles, positive-negative charge pair production and the effects of volume fluctuations into account, the Poisson baseline of the fluctuations of net-charge is studied. Within the Poisson baseline, the cumulants of net-charge are derived. Comparing to the Skellam baseline of net-charge, we infer that doubly charged particles broaden the distributions of net-charge, while positive-negative charge pairs narrow the distributions. Using the ratios of doubly charged particles and positive-negative charge pairs from neutral resonance decays to the total positive charges from THERMINATOR 2, the first four orders of moments and the corresponding moment products are calculated in the Poisson baseline for Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV at RHIC/STAR. We find that the standard deviation is mainly influenced by the resonance decay, while the third and fourth order moments and corresponding moment products are mainly modified and fit the data of RHIC/STAR much better after including the effects of volume fluctuations.

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arXiv2018

Finite-size behaviour of generalized susceptibilities in the whole phase plane of the Potts model

We study the sign distribution of generalized magnetic susceptibilities in the temperature-external magnetic field plane using the three-dimensional three-state Potts model. We find that the sign of odd-order susceptibility is opposite in the symmetric (disorder) and broken (order) phases, but that of the even-order one remains positive when it is far away from the phase boundary. When the critical point is approached from the crossover side, negative fourth-order magnetic susceptibility is observable. It is also demonstrated that non-monotonic behavior occurs in the temperature dependence of the generalized susceptibilities of the energy. The finite-size scaling behavior of the specific heat in this model is mainly controlled by the critical exponent of the magnetic susceptibility in the three-dimensional Ising universality class.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2017

Correlation functions of net-proton multiplicity distributions in Au + Au collisions at energies available at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider from a multiphase transport model

Fluctuations of conserved quantities are believed to be sensitive observables to probe the signature of the QCD phase transition and critical point. It was argued recently that measuring the genuine correlation functions (CFs) could provide cleaner information on possible nontrivial dynamics in heavy-ion collisions.With the AMPT (a multiphase transport) model, the centrality and energy dependence of various orders of CFs of net protons in Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$=7.7, 11.5, 19.6, 27, 39, 62.4 and 200 GeV are investigated. The model results show that the number of antiprotons is important and should be taken into account in the calculation of CFs at high energy and/or in peripheral collisions. It is also found that the contribution of antiprotons is more important for higher order correlations than for lower ones. The CFs of antiprotons and mixed correlations play roles comparable to those of protons at high energies. Finally, we make comparisons between the model calculation and experimental data measured in the STAR experiment at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Measurement of the ratio of the sixth order to the second order cumulant of net-proton multiplicity distributions in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

We investigate the measurement of the sixth order cumulant and its ratio to the second order cumulant ($C_6/C_2$) in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. The influence of statistics and different methods of centrality bin width correction on $C_6/C_2$ of net-proton multiplicity distributions is demonstrated. There is no satisfactory method to extract $C_6/C_2$ with the current statistics recorded at lower energies by STAR at RHIC. With statistics comparable to the expected statistics at the planned future RHIC Beam Energy Scan II (BES II), no energy dependence of $C_6/C_2$ is observed in central collisions using the UrQMD model. We find if the transition signal is as strong as predicted by the PQM model, then it is hopefully observed at the upcoming RHIC BES II.

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arXiv2015

Influence of statistics on the measured moments of conserved quantities in relativistic heavy ion collisions

We study statistics dependence of the probability distributions and the means of measured moments of conserved quantities, respectively. The required statistics of all interested moments and their products are estimated based on a simple simulation. We also explain why the measured moments are underestimated when the statistics are insufficient.With the statistics at RHIC/BES, the second and third order moments can be reliably obtained based on the method of Centrality bin width correction (CBWC), which can not be applied for the fourth order moments at low energy. With planning statistics at RHIC/BES II, and improved CBWC method, $κσ^2$ in a finer centrality bin scale should be measurable. This will help us to understand the current observation of energy and centrality dependence of high-order moments.

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arXiv2014

Influences of statistics and initial size fluctuation on high-order cumulants of conserved quantities in relativistic heavy ion collisions

By the generator of the UrQMD model, event statistics for the products of kurtosis ($κ$) and variance ($σ^2$) of net-proton and net-charge multiplicity distributions are carefully studied. It is shown that the statistics at RHIC/BES below $\sqrt {s_{NN}} < 19.6$ GeV are not sufficient for using the method of Centrality Bin Width Correction (CBWC). Corresponding results are systematically underestimated. A way to improve the CBWC method is proposed. It can remove the statistics dependence of the data and reduce the initial size fluctuation as well.

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arXiv2013

Statistical and dynamical parts of the cumulants of conserved charges in relativistic heavy ion collisions

The Poisson-liked statistical fluctuations, which are caused by the finite number of produced particles, are firstly estimated for the cumulants of conserved charges, i.e., the cumulants of net-baryon, net-electric charge, and net-strangeness. They turn out to be the same as those baselines derived from Hadron Resonance Gas (HRG) model. The energy and centrality dependence of net-proton cumulants at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC) are demonstrated to be mainly caused by statistical fluctuations. Subtracting the statistical fluctuations, the dynamical kurtosis of net- and total-proton from two versions of the AMPT model and the UrQMD model at current RHIC beam energies are presented. It is found that the observed sign change in the kurtosis of net-proton can not be reproduced by these three transport models. There is no significant difference between net- and total-proton kurtosis in model calculations, in contrary to the data at RHIC.

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arXiv2013

Cumulants in the 3-dimensional Ising, O(2) and O(4) spin models

Based on the universal properties of a critical point in different systems and that the QCD phase transitions fall into the same universality classes as the 3-dimensional Ising, $O(2)$ or $O(4)$ spin models, the critical behavior of cumulants and higher cumulant ratios of the order parameter from the three kinds of spin models is studied. We found that all higher cumulant ratios change dramatically the sign near the critical temperature. The qualitative critical behavior of the same order cumulant ratio is consistent in these three models.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2013

Influence of initial size on higher cumulant ratios of net-proton number fluctuations

With the help of AMPT default model, we study the influence of initial size (centrality of collisions) on higher cumulant ratios of net-proton distributions. If the centrality is presented by impact parameter, there is a strong centrality dependent, in particular, in those peripheral collisions. This dependence is slightly reduced if the centrality is presented by number of participant, or charged multiplicity. However, the dynamical ratios are almost centrality independent. So the centrality dependence of dynamical ratios at RHIC beam energy scan are presented.

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arXiv2013

High cumulants from the 3-dimensional $O(1, 2, 4)$ spin models

Considering different universality classes of the QCD phase transitions, we perform the Monte Carlo simulations of the 3-dimensional $O(1, 2, 4)$ models at vanishing and non-vanishing external field, respectively. Interesting high cumulants of the order parameter and energy from O(1) (Ising) spin model, and the cumulants of the energy from O(2) and O(4) spin models are presented. The critical features of the cumulants are discussed. They are instructive to the high cumulants of the net baryon number in the QCD phase transitions.

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