Statistical and dynamical fluctuations in the ratios of higher cumulants in relativistic heavy ion collisions

Chen Lizhu, Pan Xue, Xiong Fengbo, Li Lin, Li Na, Li Zhiming, Gang Wang, Wu Yuanfang

Published 2010-11-02, updated 2011-01-05Version 2

With the help of transport and statistical models, we find that the ratios of higher net-proton cumulants measured at RHIC are dominated by the statistical fluctuations. Future measurements should focus on the dynamical fluctuations, which are relevant to the underlying mechanisms of particle production, the critical phenomena in particular. We also demonstrate that a proton-antiproton correlation directly show if protons and antiprotons are emitted independently.