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We present the first measurement of the proton correlation function in heavy-ion collisions for the central (0–40%) and peripheral (40–80%) Au + Au collisions at sNN=200 GeV by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC). Predictions for the ratio of peripheral collisions to central collisions for the proton correlation function are sensitive to the presence of a nucleon bound state. These predictions are based on the proton interaction extracted from (2+1)-flavor lattice QCD calculations at the physical point. The measured ratio of the proton correlation function between the peripheral (small system) and central (large system) collisions is less than unity for relative momentum smaller than 40 MeV/c. Comparison of our measured correlation ratio with theoretical calculation slightly favors a proton bound system with a binding energy of ∼ 27 MeV.

50 citations (Crossref) [2023-10-31] Citation Key Alias: lens.org/036-293-700-061-567, pop00013 tex.type: [object Object]