The transverse structure of the baryon source in relativistic heavy ion collisions

A direct method to reconstruct the transverse structure of the baryon sourc e formed in a relativistic heavy ion collision is presented, The procedure makes use of experimentally measured proton and deuteron spectra and assume s that deuterons are formed via two-nucleon coalescence. The transverse den sity shape and flow profile are reconstructed for Pb + Pb collisions at the CERN-SPS, The ambiguity with respect to the soul ce temperature is demonst rated and possible ways to resolve it are discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie nce B.V. All rights reserved.