NUKLEONIKA 2004, 49(Supplement 2):s71-s76

AZIMUTHALLY-SENSITIVE INTERFEROMETRY AND THE SOURCE LIFETIME AT RHIC

Michael A. Lisa for the STAR Collaboration

Physics Department, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA


Pion interferometry (HBT) measurements relative to the reaction plane provide an estimate of the transverse source anisotropy at freeze-out, which probes the system dynamics and evolution duration. Measurements by the STAR Collaboration indicate that the source is extended increasingly out-of-plane with increasing impact parameter, suggesting a short evolution duration roughly consistent with estimates based on azimuthally-integrated HBT measurements.