On the space-time difference of proton and composite particle emission in central heavy-ion reactions at 400 A· MeV

Abstract: Small-angle correlations of pairs of nonidentical light charged particles produced in central collisions of heavy ions in the A= 100 mass region at a beam energy of 400 A· MeV are investigated with the FOPI detector system at GSI Darmstadt. The difference of longitudinal correlation functions with the relative velocity parallel and anti-parallel to the center-of-mass velocity of the pair in the central source frame is studied. This method allows extracting the apparent space-time differences of the emission of the charged particles. Comparing the correlations with results of a final-state interaction model delivers quantitative estimates of these asymmetries. Time delays as short as 1~fm/c or – alternatively – source radius differences of a few tenth fm are resolved. The strong collective expansion of the participant zone introduces not only an apparent reduction of the source radius but also a modification of the emission times. After correcting for both effects a complete sequence of the space-time emission of p, d, t, 3He, α particles is presented for the first time.