We report the measurement of $K^{*0}$ meson at midrapidity ($|y|<$ 1.0) in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$~=~7.7, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27 and 39 GeV collected by the STAR experiment during the RHIC beam energy scan (BES) program. The transverse momentum spectra, yield, and average transverse momentum of $K^{*0}$ are presented as functions of collision centrality and beam energy. The $K^{*0}/K$ yield ratios are presented for different collision centrality intervals and beam energies. The $K^{*0}/K$ ratio in heavy-ion collisions are observed to be smaller than that in small system collisions (e+e and p+p). The $K^{*0}/K$ ratio follows a similar centrality dependence to that observed in previous RHIC and LHC measurements. The data favor the scenario of the dominance of hadronic re-scattering over regeneration for $K^{*0}$ production in the hadronic phase of the medium.
$p_{\mathrm T}$-differential yield of $\mathrm{K^{*0}} + \bar{\mathrm{K^{*0}}}$ in AuAu collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}~=~$19.6 GeV (Multiplicity class 60-80%).
At the origin of the Universe, asymmetry between the amount of created matter and antimatter led to the matter-dominated Universe as we know today. The origins of this asymmetry remain not completely understood yet. High-energy nuclear collisions create conditions similar to the Universe microseconds after the Big Bang, with comparable amounts of matter and antimatter. Much of the created antimatter escapes the rapidly expanding fireball without annihilating, making such collisions an effective experimental tool to create heavy antimatter nuclear objects and study their properties, hoping to shed some light on existing questions on the asymmetry between matter and antimatter. Here we report the first observation of the antimatter hypernucleus \hbox{$^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.
Production yield ratios of various particles with the same baryon number. Results combining all collision systems in this work are shown by filled stars. Open stars show results with only U+U and Au+Au collisions, while quadrangular stars show results with only Zr+Zr and Ru+Ru collisions. Statistical uncertainties and systematic uncertainties are shown by vertical bars and boxes, respectively. Previous measurement results and thermal model predictions are also shown for comparison. Ratio Typle Index, 0:$\frac{{}^{3}\bar{He}}{{}^{3}He}$ 1:$\frac{{}^{3}\bar{He}}{{}^{3}He}\times\frac{\bar{p}}{p}$ 2:$\frac{{}^{4}\bar{He}}{{}^{4}He}$ 3:$\frac{{}^{3}_{\bar{\Lambda}}\bar{H}}{{}^{3}_{\Lambda}H}$ 4:$\frac{{}^{3}_{\bar{\Lambda}}\bar{H}}{{}^{3}_{\Lambda}H}\times\frac{\bar{p}}{p}$ 5:$\frac{{}^{4}_{\bar{\Lambda}}\bar{H}}{{}^{4}_{\Lambda}H}$ 6:$\frac{{}^{3}_{\Lambda}H}{{}^{3}He}$ 7:$\frac{{}^{4}_{\Lambda}H}{{}^{4}He}$ 8:$\frac{{}^{3}_{\bar{\Lambda}}\bar{H}}{^{3}\bar{He}}$ 9:$\frac{{}^{4}_{\bar{\Lambda}}\bar{H}}{^{4}\bar{He}}$
Production yield ratios of various particles with the same baryon number. Results combining all collision systems in this work are shown by filled stars. Open stars show results with only U+U and Au+Au collisions, while quadrangular stars show results with only Zr+Zr and Ru+Ru collisions. Statistical uncertainties and systematic uncertainties are shown by vertical bars and boxes, respectively. Previous measurement results and thermal model predictions are also shown for comparison. Ratio Typle Index, 0:$\frac{{}^{3}\bar{He}}{{}^{3}He}$ 1:$\frac{{}^{3}\bar{He}}{{}^{3}He}\times\frac{\bar{p}}{p}$ 2:$\frac{{}^{4}\bar{He}}{{}^{4}He}$ 3:$\frac{{}^{3}_{\bar{\Lambda}}\bar{H}}{{}^{3}_{\Lambda}H}$ 4:$\frac{{}^{3}_{\bar{\Lambda}}\bar{H}}{{}^{3}_{\Lambda}H}\times\frac{\bar{p}}{p}$ 5:$\frac{{}^{4}_{\bar{\Lambda}}\bar{H}}{{}^{4}_{\Lambda}H}$ 6:$\frac{{}^{3}_{\Lambda}H}{{}^{3}He}$ 7:$\frac{{}^{4}_{\Lambda}H}{{}^{4}He}$ 8:$\frac{{}^{3}_{\bar{\Lambda}}\bar{H}}{^{3}\bar{He}}$ 9:$\frac{{}^{4}_{\bar{\Lambda}}\bar{H}}{^{4}\bar{He}}$
Production yield ratios of various particles with the same baryon number. Results combining all collision systems in this work are shown by filled stars. Open stars show results with only U+U and Au+Au collisions, while quadrangular stars show results with only Zr+Zr and Ru+Ru collisions. Statistical uncertainties and systematic uncertainties are shown by vertical bars and boxes, respectively. Previous measurement results and thermal model predictions are also shown for comparison. Ratio Typle Index, 0:$\frac{{}^{3}\bar{He}}{{}^{3}He}$ 1:$\frac{{}^{3}\bar{He}}{{}^{3}He}\times\frac{\bar{p}}{p}$ 2:$\frac{{}^{4}\bar{He}}{{}^{4}He}$ 3:$\frac{{}^{3}_{\bar{\Lambda}}\bar{H}}{{}^{3}_{\Lambda}H}$ 4:$\frac{{}^{3}_{\bar{\Lambda}}\bar{H}}{{}^{3}_{\Lambda}H}\times\frac{\bar{p}}{p}$ 5:$\frac{{}^{4}_{\bar{\Lambda}}\bar{H}}{{}^{4}_{\Lambda}H}$ 6:$\frac{{}^{3}_{\Lambda}H}{{}^{3}He}$ 7:$\frac{{}^{4}_{\Lambda}H}{{}^{4}He}$ 8:$\frac{{}^{3}_{\bar{\Lambda}}\bar{H}}{^{3}\bar{He}}$ 9:$\frac{{}^{4}_{\bar{\Lambda}}\bar{H}}{^{4}\bar{He}}$
We report the triton ($t$) production in mid-rapidity ($|y| <$ 0.5) Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$= 7.7--200 GeV measured by the STAR experiment from the first phase of the beam energy scan at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The nuclear compound yield ratio ($\mathrm{N}_t \times \mathrm{N}_p/\mathrm{N}_d^2$), which is predicted to be sensitive to the fluctuation of local neutron density, is observed to decrease monotonically with increasing charged-particle multiplicity ($dN_{ch}/d\eta$) and follows a scaling behavior. The $dN_{ch}/d\eta$ dependence of the yield ratio is compared to calculations from coalescence and thermal models. Enhancements in the yield ratios relative to the coalescence baseline are observed in the 0%-10% most central collisions at 19.6 and 27 GeV, with a significance of 2.3$\sigma$ and 3.4$\sigma$, respectively, giving a combined significance of 4.1$\sigma$. The enhancements are not observed in peripheral collisions or model calculations without critical fluctuation, and decreases with a smaller $p_{T}$ acceptance. The physics implications of these results on the QCD phase structure and the production mechanism of light nuclei in heavy-ion collisions are discussed.
Invariant p_{T} spectra of primordial antiprotons in Au+Au collisions at SQRT(s_NN) = 11.5 GeV at 40-80% centrality
With the STAR experiment at the BNL Relativisic Heavy Ion Collider, we characterize $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 200 GeV p+Au collisions by event activity (EA) measured within the pseudorapidity range $eta$$in$ [-5, -3.4] in the Au-going direction and report correlations between this EA and hard- and soft- scale particle production at midrapidity ($\eta$$\in$ [-1, 1]). At the soft scale, charged particle production in low-EA p+Au collisions is comparable to that in p+p collisions and increases monotonically with increasing EA. At the hard scale, we report measurements of high transverse momentum (pT) jets in events of different EAs. In contrast with the soft particle production, high-pT particle production and EA are found to be inversely related. To investigate whether this is a signal of jet quenching in high-EA events, we also report ratios of pT imbalance and azimuthal separation of dijets in high- and low-EA events. Within our measurement precision, no significant differences are observed, disfavoring the presence of jet quenching in the highest 30% EA p+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
The STAR Collaboration reports measurements of the transverse single-spin asymmetries, $A_N$, for inclusive jets and identified `hadrons within jets' production at midrapidity from transversely polarized $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV, based on data recorded in 2012 and 2015. The inclusive jet asymmetry measurements include $A_N$ for inclusive jets and $A_N$ for jets containing a charged pion carrying a momentum fraction $z>0.3$ of the jet momentum. The identified hadron within jet asymmetry measurements include the Collins effect for charged pions, kaons and protons, and the Collins-like effect for charged pions. The measured asymmetries are determined for several distinct kinematic regions, characterized by the jet transverse momentum $p_{T}$ and pseudorapidity $\eta$, as well as the hadron momentum fraction $z$ and momentum transverse to the jet axis $j_{T}$. These results probe higher momentum scales ($Q^{2}$ up to $\sim$ 900 GeV$^{2}$) than current, semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering measurements, and they provide new constraints on quark transversity in the proton and enable tests of evolution, universality and factorization breaking in the transverse-momentum-dependent formalism.
Collins asymmetries, $A_{UT}^{\sin(\phi_{S}-\phi_{H})}$, as a function of the charged pion's longitudinal momentum fraction, $z$, in different jet-$p_{T}$ bins. The bars show the statistical uncertainties, while the size of the boxes represents the systematic uncertainties on $A_{UT}^{\sin(\phi_{S}-\phi_{H})}$ (vertical) and hadron-$z$ (horizontal).
Collins asymmetries, $A_{UT}^{\sin(\phi_{S}-\phi_{H})}$, as a function of the charged pion's longitudinal momentum fraction, $z$, in different jet-$p_{T}$ bins. The bars show the statistical uncertainties, while the size of the boxes represents the systematic uncertainties on $A_{UT}^{\sin(\phi_{S}-\phi_{H})}$ (vertical) and hadron-$z$ (horizontal).
Collins asymmetries, $A_{UT}^{\sin(\phi_{S}-\phi_{H})}$, as a function of the charged pion's longitudinal momentum fraction, $z$, in different jet-$p_{T}$ bins. The bars show the statistical uncertainties, while the size of the boxes represents the systematic uncertainties on $A_{UT}^{\sin(\phi_{S}-\phi_{H})}$ (vertical) and hadron-$z$ (horizontal).
We measure triangular flow relative to the reaction plane at 3 GeV center-of-mass energy in Au+Au collisions at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. A significant $v_3$ signal for protons is observed, which increases for higher rapidity, higher transverse momentum, and more peripheral collisions. The triangular flow is essentially rapidity-odd with a slope at mid-rapidity, $dv_3/dy|_{(y=0)}$, opposite in sign compared to the slope for directed flow. No significant $v_3$ signal is observed for charged pions and kaons. Comparisons with models suggest that a mean field potential is required to describe these results, and that the triangular shape of the participant nucleons is the result of stopping and nuclear geometry.
We report the systematic measurement of protons and light nuclei production in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}$ = 3 GeV by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The transverse momentum ($p_{T}$) spectra of protons ($p$), deuterons ($d$), tritons ($t$), $^{3}\mathrm{He}$, and $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ are measured from mid-rapidity to target rapidity for different collision centralities. We present the rapidity and centrality dependence of particle yields ($dN/dy$), average transverse momentum ($\langle p_{T}\rangle$), yield ratios ($d/p$, $t/p$,$^{3}\mathrm{He}/p$, $^{4}\mathrm{He}/p$), as well as the coalescence parameters ($B_2$, $B_3$). The 4$\pi$ yields for various particles are determined by utilizing the measured rapidity distributions, $dN/dy$. Furthermore, we present the energy, centrality, and rapidity dependence of the compound yield ratios ($N_{p} \times N_{t} / N_{d}^{2}$) and compare them with various model calculations. The physics implications of those results on the production mechanism of light nuclei and on QCD phase structure are discussed.
We report a new measurement of the production cross section for inclusive electrons from open heavy-flavor hadron decays as a function of transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) at mid-rapidity ($|y|<$ 0.7) in $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 200$ GeV. The result is presented for 2.5 $<p_{\rm T}<$ 10 GeV/$c$ with an improved precision above 6 GeV/$c$ with respect to the previous measurements, providing more constraints on perturbative QCD calculations. Moreover, this measurement also provides a high-precision reference for measurements of nuclear modification factors for inclusive electrons from open-charm and -bottom hadron decays in heavy-ion collisions.
We report here the first observation of directed flow ($v_1$) of the hypernuclei $^3_{\Lambda}$H and $^4_{\Lambda}$H in mid-central Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 3 GeV at RHIC. These data are taken as part of the beam energy scan program carried out by the STAR experiment. From 165 $\times$ 10$^{6}$ events in 5%-40% centrality, about 8400 $^3_{\Lambda}$H and 5200 $^4_{\Lambda}$H candidates are reconstructed through two- and three-body decay channels. We observe that these hypernuclei exhibit significant directed flow. Comparing to that of light nuclei, it is found that the midrapidity $v_1$ slopes of $^3_{\Lambda}$H and $^4_{\Lambda}$H follow baryon number scaling, implying that the coalescence is the dominant mechanism for these hypernuclei production in such collisions.
A linearly polarized photon can be quantized from the Lorentz-boosted electromagnetic field of a nucleus traveling at ultra-relativistic speed. When two relativistic heavy nuclei pass one another at a distance of a few nuclear radii, the photon from one nucleus may interact through a virtual quark-antiquark pair with gluons from the other nucleus forming a short-lived vector meson (e.g. ${\rho^0}$). In this experiment, the polarization was utilized in diffractive photoproduction to observe a unique spin interference pattern in the angular distribution of ${\rho^0\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-}$ decays. The observed interference is a result of an overlap of two wave functions at a distance an order of magnitude larger than the ${\rho^0}$ travel distance within its lifetime. The strong-interaction nuclear radii were extracted from these diffractive interactions, and found to be $6.53\pm 0.06$ fm ($^{197} {\rm Au }$) and $7.29\pm 0.08$ fm ($^{238} {\rm U}$), larger than the nuclear charge radii. The observable is demonstrated to be sensitive to the nuclear geometry and quantum interference of non-identical particles.
The $P_T^2 \approx |t|$ distribution of $\rho^0$ collected from Au+Au collisions.
Forum