Isospin effects in two-particle correlation functions: A probe for the isospin dependence of the nuclear equation of state Original Research Article

Small-angle two-particle correlation functions, involving neutrons and protons, have been measured for View the MathML source collisions, i.e. systems similar in size but with different isospin asymmetry. The correlation strength of neutron-proton (np) and proton-proton (pp) pairs is stronger for the more neutron-rich system, indicating a shorter average emission time for this system. Comparisons with isospin-dependent BUU transport model simulations are presented, and their implications for the density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy are discussed.