Pion Interferometry for Exploding Sources

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Abstract
A formula for the two-pion correlation function is derived for an arbitrary chaotic source when the emission spectrum from each point in space-time is known. The experimental fact that pions with high momentum in the center-of-mass frame are more correlated than lowmomentum pions is explained by a collective expansion of the source. A simple model illustrates how the pion correlations can be used to measure the expansion velocity of a nuclear fireball.