Atomic nuclei are self-organized, many-body quantum systems bound by strong nuclear forces within femtometer-scale space. These complex systems manifest a variety of shapes, traditionally explored using non-invasive spectroscopic techniques at low energies. However, at these energies, their instantaneous shapes are obscured by long-timescale quantum fluctuations, making direct observation challenging. Here we introduce the ``collective flow assisted nuclear shape imaging'' method, which images the nuclear global shape by colliding them at ultrarelativistic speeds and analyzing the collective response of outgoing debris. This technique captures a collision-specific snapshot of the spatial matter distribution within the nuclei, which, through the hydrodynamic expansion, imprints patterns on the particle momentum distribution observed in detectors. We benchmark this method in collisions of ground state Uranium-238 nuclei, known for their elongated, axial-symmetric shape. Our findings show a large deformation with a slight deviation from axial symmetry in the nuclear ground state, aligning broadly with previous low-energy experiments. This approach offers a new method for imaging nuclear shapes, enhances our understanding of the initial conditions in high-energy collisions and addresses the important issue of nuclear structure evolution across energy scales.
Data from Figure 2, panel a, Au+Au, 0-0.5% Centrality, 0.2<p_{T}<3 GeV/c, systematics include non-flow difference in the two systems, but correlated non-flow systematics with the value of $\delta \left\langle v_{2}^{2}\right\rangle$ =+-3.2e-5 included
Data from Figure 2, panel a, U+U, 0-0.5% Centrality, 0.2<p_{T}<3 GeV/c, systematics include non-flow difference in the two systems, but correlated non-flow systematics with the value of $\delta \left\langle v_{2}^{2}\right\rangle$ =+-3.2e-5 included
Data from Figure 2, panel b, Au+Au, 0-0.5% Centrality, 0.2<p_{T}<3 GeV/c
At the origin of the Universe, asymmetry between the amount of created matter and antimatter led to the matter-dominated Universe as we know today. The origins of this asymmetry remain not completely understood yet. High-energy nuclear collisions create conditions similar to the Universe microseconds after the Big Bang, with comparable amounts of matter and antimatter. Much of the created antimatter escapes the rapidly expanding fireball without annihilating, making such collisions an effective experimental tool to create heavy antimatter nuclear objects and study their properties, hoping to shed some light on existing questions on the asymmetry between matter and antimatter. Here we report the first observation of the antimatter hypernucleus \hbox{$^4_{\bar{\Lambda}}\overline{\hbox{H}}$}, composed of a $\bar{\Lambda}$ , an antiproton and two antineutrons. The discovery was made through its two-body decay after production in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. In total, 15.6 candidate \hbox{$^4_{\bar{\Lambda}}\overline{\hbox{H}}$} antimatter hypernuclei are obtained with an estimated background count of 6.4. The lifetimes of the antihypernuclei \hbox{$^3_{\bar{\Lambda}}\overline{\hbox{H}}$} and \hbox{$^4_{\bar{\Lambda}}\overline{\hbox{H}}$} are measured and compared with the lifetimes of their corresponding hypernuclei, testing the symmetry between matter and antimatter. Various production yield ratios among (anti)hypernuclei and (anti)nuclei are also measured and compared with theoretical model predictions, shedding light on their production mechanisms.
Invariant mass distributions of $^3\hbox{He}+\pi^-$ (A), $^3\overline{\hbox{He}}+\pi^+$ (B), $^4\hbox{He}+\pi^-$ (C) and $^4\overline{\hbox{He}}+\pi^+$ (D). The solid bands mark the signal invariant mass regions. The obtained signal count ($N_{\rm Sig}$), background count ($N_{\rm Bg}$), and signal significance are listed in each panel.
Invariant mass distributions of $^3\hbox{He}+\pi^-$ (A), $^3\overline{\hbox{He}}+\pi^+$ (B), $^4\hbox{He}+\pi^-$ (C) and $^4\overline{\hbox{He}}+\pi^+$ (D). The solid bands mark the signal invariant mass regions. The obtained signal count ($N_{\rm Sig}$), background count ($N_{\rm Bg}$), and signal significance are listed in each panel.
Invariant mass distributions of $^3\hbox{He}+\pi^-$ (A), $^3\overline{\hbox{He}}+\pi^+$ (B), $^4\hbox{He}+\pi^-$ (C) and $^4\overline{\hbox{He}}+\pi^+$ (D). The solid bands mark the signal invariant mass regions. The obtained signal count ($N_{\rm Sig}$), background count ($N_{\rm Bg}$), and signal significance are listed in each panel.
The jet fragmentation function is measured with direct photon-hadron correlations in p+p and Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV. The p_T of the photon is an excellent approximation to the initial p_T of the jet and the ratio z_T=p_T^h/p_T^\gamma is used as a proxy for the jet fragmentation function. A statistical subtraction is used to extract the direct photon-hadron yields in Au+Au collisions while a photon isolation cut is applied in p+p. I_ AA, the ratio of jet fragment yield in Au+Au to that in p+p, indicates modification of the jet fragmentation function. Suppression, most likely due to energy loss in the medium, is seen at high z_T. The fragment yield at low z_T is enhanced at large angles. Such a trend is expected from redistribution of the lost energy into increased production of low-momentum particles.
Direct photon-hadron pair per-trigger yields vs Delta-phi (Au+Au and p+p)
Integrated per-trigger yields and I_AA vs xi
Integrated per-trigger yields and I_AA vs xi
Cross sections for elastic production of J/Psi mesons in photoproduction and electroproduction are measured in electron proton collisions at HERA using an integrated luminosity of 55 pb^{-1}. Results are presented for photon virtualities Q^2 up to 80 GeV^2. The dependence on the photon-proton centre of mass energy W_{gamma p} is analysed in the range 40 < \Wgp < 305 GeV in photoproduction and 40 < \Wgp < 160 GeV in electroproduction. The \Wgp dependences of the cross sections do not change significantly with Q^2 and can be described by models based on perturbative QCD. Within such models, the data show a high sensitivity to the gluon density of the proton in the domain of low Bjorken x and low Q^2. Differential cross sections d\sigma/dt, where t is the squared four-momentum transfer at the proton vertex, are measured in the range |t|<1.2 GeV^2 as functions of \Wgp and Q^2. Effective Pomeron trajectories are determined for photoproduction and electroproduction. The J/Psi production and decay angular distributions are consistent with s-channel helicity conservation. The ratio of the cross sections for longitudinally and transversely polarised photons is measured as a function of Q^2 and is found to be described by perturbative QCD based models.
Cross section for elastic J/PSI photoproduction in Q**2 bins for W = 90 GeV and ABS(T) < 1.2 GeV**2.
Cross section for elastic J/PSI photoproduction in W bins for ABS(T) < 1.2 GeV**2 and Q**2 < 1 GeV**2.. There are two cross sections for the 205 to 235 GeV bin due to overlapping data sets. The mean is 151 +- 8 (DSYS=20) nb.
Cross section for elastic J/PSI photoproduction as a function of W in Q**2 bins for ABS(T) < 1.2 GeV**2.
The diffractive photoproduction of J/psi mesons is measured with the H1 detector at the ep collider HERA using an integrated luminosity of 78 pb^-1. The differential cross section d sigma(gamma p -> J/psi Y) / d t is studied in the range 2 < |t| < 30 GeV^2, where t is the square of the four-momentum transferred at the proton vertex. The cross section is also presented as a function of the photon-proton centre-of-mass energy W in three t intervals, spanning the range 50 < W < 200 GeV. A fast rise of the cross section with W is observed for each t range and the slope for the effective linear Pomeron trajectory is measured to be alpha^\prime= -0.0135 \pm 0.0074 (stat.) \pm 0.0051 (syst.) GeV^-2. The measurements are compared with perturbative QCD models based on BFKL and DGLAP evolution. The data are found to be compatible with s-channel helicity conservation.
The differential photoproduction cross section DSIG/DT for diffractive J/PSI production.
The J/PSI photoproduction cross section as a function of W for the ABS(T) range 2 to 5 GeV**2.
The J/PSI photoproduction cross section as a function of W for the ABS(T) range 5 to 10 GeV**2.
Inclusive jet cross sections are measured in photoproduction at HERA using the H1 detector. The data sample of e+ p -> e+ + jet + X events in the kinematic range of photon virtualities Q^2 < 1 GeV^2 and photon-proton centre-of-mass energies 95 < W_gammap < 285 GeV represents an integrated luminosity of 24.1 pb^-1. Jets are defined using the inclusive k_T algorithm. Single- and multi-differential cross sections are measured as functions of jet transverse energy E_T^jet and pseudorapidity \eta^jet in the domain 5 < E_T^jet < 75 GeV and -1 < \eta^jet < 2.5. The cross sections are found to be in good agreement with next-to-leading order perturbative QCD calculations corrected for fragmentation and underlying event effects. The cross section differential in E_T^jet, which varies by six orders of magnitude over the measured range, is compared with similar distributions from p pbar colliders at equal and higher energies.
Measured differential E+ P cross section DSIG/DET for inclusive jet photoproduction (Q**2 < 1 GeV**2) integrated over the jet pseudorapidity range -1 to 2.5 in the W(C=GAMMA P) range 95 to 285 GeV.
Measured differential E+ P cross section DSIG/DET for inclusive jet photoproduction (Q**2 < 1 GeV**2) integrated over the jet pseudorapidity range -1 to 2.5 in the W(C=GAMMA P) ranges 95 to 212, and 212 to 285 GeV.
Measured differential E+ P cross section DSIG/DET for inclusive jet photoproduction for the two Q**2 ranges integrated over the jet pseudorapidity range -1to 2.5 in the W(C=GAMMA P) range 164 to 242 GeV.
An analysis of inelastic photoproduction of J/Psi mesons is presented using data collected at the ep collider HERA corresponding to an integrated luminosity of above 80pb-1. Differential and double differential cross sections are measured in a wide kinematic region: 60<W_gammap<260 GeV, 1<p_t^2< 60 GeV^2 and 0.05<z<0.9, where z is the fraction of the energy of the exchanged photon transferred to the J/Psi meson in the rest frame of the target proton. Cross sections at z<0.3 are presented for the first time. Theoretical calculations within the Colour Singlet Model at NLO for direct photon processes are shown to give a good description of the data in the medium z region (0.3<z<0.9) up to the highest p_t^2 values. A calculation using a k_t factorisation approach in LO in the Colour Singlet Model is also able to describe these data. The data in the full z range are also compared to LO calculations within a non-relativistic QCD framework including color octet and colour singlet contributions for direct and resolved photons. It seems possible to reconcile data and theory with modest contributions from colour octet processes. The polarisation of the J/Psi meson is measured as a function of z and p_t,psi and is reasonably described by the theoretical predictions.
The inelastic J/PSI production cross section as a function of W.
The inelastic J/PSI production cross section as a function of Z.
The double differential cross section for J/PSI production as a function of Z and PT**2.
The leptoproduction of J/psi mesons is studied in inelastic reactions for four momentum transfers 2<Q^2<100GeV^2. The data were taken with the H1 detector at the electron proton collider HERA and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 77 pb-1. Single differential and double differential cross sections are measured with increased precision compared with previous analyses. New leading order calculations within the non-relativistic QCD factorisation approach including colour octet and colour singlet contributions are compared with the data and are found to give a reasonable description of most distributions. An exception is the shape of the distribution in the J/psi fractional energy, z, which deviates significantly from that of the data. Comparisons with photoproduction are made and the polarisation of the produced J/psi meson is analysed.
J/PSI leptoproduction differential cross section as a function of Q**2.
J/PSI leptoproduction differential cross section as a function of Z.
J/PSI leptoproduction differential cross section as a function of W.
Events with a (2+1) jet topology in deep-inelastic scattering at HERA are studied in the kinematic range 200 < Q^2< 10,000 GeV^2. The rate of (2+1) jet events has been determined with the modified JADE jet algorithm as a function of the jet resolution parameter and is compared with the predictions of Monte Carlo models. In addition, the event rate is corrected for both hadronization and detector effects and is compared with next-to-leading order QCD calculations. A value of the strong coupling constant of alpha_s(M_Z^2)= 0.118+- 0.002 (stat.)^(+0.007)_(-0.008) (syst.)^(+0.007)_(-0.006) (theory) is extracted. The systematic error includes uncertainties in the calorimeter energy calibration, in the description of the data by current Monte Carlo models, and in the knowledge of the parton densities. The theoretical error is dominated by the renormalization scale ambiguity.
Y2 distribution corrected for detector effects.
Y2 distribution corrected for both detector and hadronization effects.
Y2 distribution using the E, E0 and P variants of the JADE alogrithm, corrected for both detector and hadronization effects. Statistical errors only.
Forum