Hadron production in Au-Au collisions at RHIC

We present an analysis of particle production yields measured in central Au -Au collisions at RHIC in the framework of the go statistical thermal model . We demonstrate that the model extrapolated from previous analyses at SPS and AGS energy is in a od agreement with the available experimental data at roots = 130 GeV implying a high degree of chemical equilibration. Performi ng a chi (2) fit to the data, the range of thermal parameters at chemical f reezeout is determined. At present, the best agreement of the model and the data is obtained with the baryon chemical potential mu (B) similar or equa l to 46 +/- 5 MeV and temperature T similar or equal to 174 +/- 7 MeV. More ratios, such as multistrange baryon to meson, would be required to further constrain the chemical freezeout conditions. Extrapolating thermal paramet ers to higher energy, the predictions of the model for particle production in Au-Au reactions at roots = 200 GeV are also given. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.