α-clustering effects in relativistic heavy-ion collisions
Abstract
The main physical goal of relativistic heavy-ion collisions is to search for quark-gluon plasma (QGP) and study its properties. Over decades of research in relativistic heavy-ion collision physics, experimental and theoretical studies have proposed numerous probes to detect QGP signals and study their properties using various observables <xref rid="REF1" xml:base="bibr">[1,2]</xref>. Among these probes, collective flow is important. The description of collective flow in relativistic hydrodynamics indicates that the momentum space of the fireball formed in the noncentral collision region gradually exhibits an anisotropic distribution during its outward expansion, which is directly influenced by the coordinate space of the initial state of the colliding nuclei. In recent years, research has advanced, and attention is directed toward thought-provoking questions. For instance, researchers have explored whether an elliptical flow signal is present in head-on collisions. Additionally, they have investigated the influence of the initial deformation of atomic nuclei on the final momentum space. Moreover, there is interest in whether specific nuclear structures produce recognizable signals in observables such as collective flows. International studies have addressed these questions, and some theoretical studies have led to new experimental measurements. Therefore, summarizing the history is necessary for future research. Exploring the possibility of studying the nuclear structure problem through relativistic heavy-ion collisions is necessary. In this paper, we take the structure of the α-clusters inside atomic nuclei as an example to review the aforementioned studies and explore high-energy nucleus-nucleus collisions as a new approach to studying nuclear structure.
