Transport-theoretical analysis of relativistic heavy-ion collisions

Abstract
Relativistic heavy-ion collisions at energies of the order of 1 GeV are analysed in terms of a covariant transport model that is based on nucleon and Delta -degrees of freedom and mesonic mean fields. The questions of possible classical meson-field radiation and of the thermal properties of the system during the collision are addressed. A detailed comparison with the experimental data obtained by the Plastic-Ball group at the BEVALAC shows that the combination of mean-field dynamics and two-body collisions is well suited for gaining an understanding of the dynamics of heavy-ion collisions. How far quantitative conclusions about the properties of nuclear matter at high densities and temperatures can be made and how future experiments can help to achieve this goal is also considered.