System size and energy dependence of proton rapidity spectra from NA61/SHINE at the CERN SPS

Abstract: NA61/SHINE is an experiment at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron. The main goals of the experiment are the search for the critical point of strongly interacting matter and the study of the properties of the onset of deconfinement. To reach these goals, the two-dimensional scan in beam momentum ($13A-150A$ GeV/$c$) and system size ($p$+$p$, Be+Be, Ar+Sc, Xe+La, Pb+Pb) was performed. In the final stage of the collision, the spectra of protons are only weakly affected by the effects of resonance decays and rescattering due to their large mass. Thus, proton rapidity distribution is particularly sensitive to the onset of deconfinement. This article presents experimental results on proton production in the collision energy range, which is most relevant to the onset of deconfinement. The procedure of measuring the proton rapidity spectra by NA61/SHINE is described, as well as Collaboration's recent results from reactions of $p$+$p$, Be+Be and Ar+Sc. Presented experimental results are confronted with existing data and models.