Data-guided coalescence model for production of light nuclei and hypernuclei in relativistic heavy-ion collisions at
Phys. Rev. C 113, 034912 – Published 13 March, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/9m2b-99x4
Abstract
The production of light hypernuclei in relativistic heavy-ion collisions provides a unique opportunity to probe hyperon-nucleon interactions and possible three-body forces, which are central to the resolution of the hyperon puzzle in neutron star matter. In this work, we develop a data-guided coalescence framework in which the source size is extracted from proton and deuteron yields and used, together with measured proton and spectra, to predict the production of nuclei and hypernuclei in collisions. For tritons, calculations with a Gaussian wave function reproduce experimental spectra and yield ratios across this energy range. For the hypertriton, the model predictions are highly sensitive to the assumed wave function. This sensitivity is strongest at low collision energies and in low-multiplicity environments, implying that such conditions are particularly valuable for probing hypernuclear structure.