Particle interferometry for relativistic heavy-ion collisions

In this report we give a detailed account on Hanbury Brown/Twiss (HBT) part icle interferometric methods for relativistic heavy-ion collisions. These e xploit identical two-particle correlations to gain access to the space-time geometry and dynamics of the final freeze-out stage. The connection betwee n the measured correlations in momentum space and the phase-space structure of the particle emitter is established, both with and without final state interactions. Suitable Gaussian parametrizations for the two-particle corre lation function are derived and the physical interpretation of their parame ters is explained. After reviewing various model studies, we show how a com bined analysis of single- and two-particle spectra allows to reconstruct th e final state of relativistic heavy-ion collisions. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scien ce B.V. All rights reserved.