Energy scan in heavy-ion collisions and search for a critical point

Experimental data on inclusive spectra measured in heavy-ion collisions at RHIC and SPS over a wide range of the energy \(\sqrt {s_{NN} } = 9 - 200\) GeV are analyzed in the framework of z scaling. A microscopic scenario of constituent interactions in the framework of this approach is discussed. Dependence of the energy loss on the momentum of the produced hadron, energy, and centrality of the collision, is studied. Self-similarity of the constituent interactions in terms of momentum fractions is used to characterize the nuclear medium by “specific heat” and colliding nuclei by fractal dimensions. Preferable kinematical regions for search for signatures of the phase transition of the nuclearmatter produced inHIC are discussed. Discontinuity of “specific heat” is assumed to be a signature of the phase transition and the Critical Point.