Poincaré invariant Hamiltonian dynamics: Modelling multi-hadronic interactions in a phase space approach (Q912449)

A classical Poincaré invariant particle dynamics is formulated in the framework of constraint Hamiltonian systems. This canonical formalism is compatible with physical requirements like world line invariance, cluster separability, causality principles, and a reasonable non-relativistic limit. In a microscopic phase space approach the classical propagation based on constraint dynamics is combined with some quantum effects like multiple two-body elastic and inelastic scattering to serve as a model for multi-hadronic interactions. This model which is dubbed ``relativistic quantum molecular dynamics'' is used to study relativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions. The results demonstrate the importance of collective motion, nuclear stopping, and secondary scattering. It is discussed whether global properties of hot, dense hadronic and quark matter - the equation of state and, in particular, the phase transition to a quark gluon plasma - can be probed in heavy ion collisions.