We report precision measurements on cumulants ($C_{n}$) and factorial cumulants ($\kappa_{n}$) of (net-)proton number distributions up to fourth-order in Au+Au collisions from phase II of the Beam Energy Scan program at RHIC. (Anti-)protons are selected at midrapidity ($|y|<0.5$) within a transverse momentum range of $0.4 < p_T < 2.0$ GeV/$c$. The collision energy and centrality dependence of these cumulants are studied over center-of-mass energies $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 7.7 -- 27 GeV. Relative to various non-critical-point model calculations and peripheral collision 70-80% data, the net-proton $C_4/C_2$ measurement in 0-5% collisions shows a minimum around 19.6 GeV for significance of deviation at $\sim2$--$5\sigma$. In addition, deviations from non-critical baselines around the same collision energy region are also seen in proton factorial cumulant ratios, especially in $\kappa_2/\kappa_1$ and $\kappa_3/\kappa_1$. Dynamical model calculations including a critical point are called for in order to understand these precision measurements.
Reference multiplicity distributions (RefMult3 and RefMult3X) for Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 19.6 GeV along with MC Glauber model fits.
Collision centrality dependence of net-proton cumulants in Au+Au collisions for $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 7.7 - 27 GeV obtained with RefMult3 and RefMult3X centrality definition.
Collision energy dependence of net-proton cumulant ratios and proton factorial cumulant ratios in Au+Au collisions from $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 7.7 - 200 GeV for 0-5$\%$ and 70-80$\%$ centrality. Data from $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 7.7 - 27 GeV are from BES-II (obtained with RefMult3X except 27 GeV where RefMult3 is used). Data from $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 39 - 200 GeV are from BES-I (RefMult3).
High precision measurements of flow coefficients $v_{n}$ ($n = 1 - 4$) for protons, deuterons and tritons relative to the first-order spectator plane have been performed in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 2.4$ GeV with the High-Acceptance Di-Electron Spectrometer (HADES) at the SIS18/GSI. Flow coefficients are studied as a function of transverse momentum $p_{t}$ and rapidity $y_{cm}$ over a large region of phase space and for several classes of collision centrality. A clear mass hierarchy is found for the slope of $v_{1}$, $d v_{1}/d y^{\prime}|_{y^{\prime} = 0}$ where $y^{\prime}$ is the scaled rapidity, and for $v_{2}$ at mid-rapidity. Scaling with the number of nucleons is observed for the $p_{t}$ dependence of $v_{2}$ and $v_{4}$ at mid-rapidity, which is indicative for nuclear coalescence as the main process responsible for light nuclei formation. $v_{2}$ is found to scale with the initial eccentricity $\langle \epsilon_{2} \rangle$, while $v_{4}$ scales with $\langle \epsilon_{2} \rangle^{2}$ and $\langle \epsilon_{4} \rangle$. The multi-differential high-precision data on $v_{1}$, $v_{2}$, $v_{3}$, and $v_{4}$ provides important constraints on the equation-of-state of compressed baryonic matter.
The resolution $\Re_{n}$ of the first-order spectator event plane for flow coefficients of different orders $n$ as a function of the event centrality (Adamczewski-Musch:2020iio). The circles correspond to centrality intervals of $5 \%$ width and the squares to $10 \%$ width (curves are meant to guide the eye).
The resolution $\Re_{n}$ of the first-order spectator event plane for flow coefficients of different orders $n$ as a function of the event centrality (Adamczewski-Musch:2020iio). The circles correspond to centrality intervals of $5 \%$ width and the squares to $10 \%$ width (curves are meant to guide the eye).
The flow coefficients $v_{1}$, $v_{2}$, $v_{3}$, and $v_{4}$ (from top to bottom panels) of protons, deuterons and tritons (from left to right panels) in semi-central ($20 - 30 \%$) Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 2.4$ GeV as a function of the centre-of-mass rapidity $y_{cm}$ in transverse momentum intervals of $50$ MeV$/c$ width. Systematic uncertainties are displayed as boxes. Lines are to guide the eye.
We present first data on sub-threshold production of K0 s mesons and {\Lambda} hyperons in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 2.4 GeV. We observe an universal <Apart> scaling of hadrons containing strangeness, independent of their corresponding production thresholds. Comparing the yields, their <Apart> scaling, and the shapes of the rapidity and the pt spectra to state-of-the-art transport model (UrQMD, HSD, IQMD) predictions, we find that none of the latter can simultaneously describe all observables with reasonable \c{hi}2 values.
Example of $K^{0}_{S}$ signal for 0-40% most central events, over mixed-event background for the bin $-0.05 < y_{cm} < 0.05$ and reduced transverse masses between $80-120 MeV/c^{2}$.
Example of $\Lambda$ signal for 0-40% most central events, over mixed-event background for the bin $-0.05 < y_{cm} < 0.05$ and reduced transverse masses between $100-150 MeV/c^{2}$.
Reduced transverse mass ($m_{t}-m_{0}$) spectra of $K^{0}_{S}$ for the 0-40% most central events. NOTE: The spectra are not scaled by $1/N_{Events}$! To compare the data, divide by $N_{Events} = 2.1997626 x 10^{9}$
We present data on charged kaons (K+-) and {\phi} mesons in Au(1.23A GeV)+Au collisions. It is the first simultaneous measurement of K and {\phi} mesons in central heavy-ion collisions below a kinetic beam energy of 10A GeV. The {\phi}/K- multiplicity ratio is found to be surprisingly high with a value of 0.52 +- 0.16 and shows no dependence on the centrality of the collision. Consequently, the different slopes of the K+ and K- transverse-mass spectra can be explained solely by feed- down, which substantially softens the spectra of K- mesons. Hence, in contrast to the commonly adapted argumentation in literature, the different slopes do not necessarily imply diverging freeze- out temperatures of K+ and K- mesons caused by different couplings to baryons.
Acceptance and efficiency corrected transverse-mass spectra around mid-rapidity.
$K^{+}$ signal and the corresponding background fit for the region covering mid-rapidity and $m_{t}−m_{0}$ between 25 and 50 $MeV/c^{2}$.
$K^{-}$ signal and the corresponding background fit for the region covering mid-rapidity and $m_{t}−m_{0}$ between 50 and 75 $MeV/c^{2}$.
We have measured the distributions of protons and deuterons produced in high energy heavy ion Au+Au collisions at RHIC over a very wide range of transverse and longitudinal momentum. Near mid-rapidity we have also measured the distribution of anti-protons and anti-deuterons. We present our results in the context of coalescence models. In particular we extract the "volume of homogeneity" and the average phase-space density for protons and anti-protons. Near central rapidity the coalescence parameter $B_2(p_T)$ and the space averaged phase-space density $<f> (p_T)$ are very similar for both protons and anti-protons. For protons we see little variation of either $B_2(p_T)$ or the space averaged phase-space density as the rapidity increases from 0 to 3. However both these quantities depend strongly on $p_T$ at all rapidities. These results are in contrast to lower energy data where the proton and anti-proton phase-space densities are different at $y$=0 and both $B_2$ and $f$ depend strongly on rapidity.
$C_{\Lambda}(p_{\mathrm{T}})$ versus $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ for $\mathrm{\Lambda}$ in $\mathrm{Au}-\mathrm{Au}$ at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=200\,\mathrm{Ge\!V}$ near $y=[0, 1, 2, 3]$ for $0-20$% central
$\frac{1}{2\pi p_{\mathrm{T}}}\frac{\mathrm{d}^2N}{\mathrm{d}p_{\mathrm{T}}\mathrm{d}y}$ versus $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ for $\mathrm{p}$ in $\mathrm{Au}-\mathrm{Au}$ at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=200\,\mathrm{Ge\!V}$ near $y=0$ for $0-20$% central
$\frac{1}{2\pi p_{\mathrm{T}}}\frac{\mathrm{d}^2N}{\mathrm{d}p_{\mathrm{T}}\mathrm{d}y}$ versus $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ for $\mathrm{d}$ in $\mathrm{Au}-\mathrm{Au}$ at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=200\,\mathrm{Ge\!V}$ near $y=0$ for $0-20$% central
We present spectra of charged pions and protons in 0-10% central Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV at mid-rapidity ($y=0$) and forward pseudorapidity ($\eta=2.2$) measured with the BRAHMS experiment at RHIC. The spectra are compared to spectra from p+p collisions at the same energy scaled by the number of binary collisions. The resulting nuclear modification factors for central Au+Au collisions at both $y=0$ and $\eta=2.2$ exhibit suppression for charged pions but not for (anti-)protons at intermediate $p_T$. The $\bar{p}/\pi^-$ ratios have been measured up to $p_T\sim 3$ GeV/$c$ at the two rapidities and the results indicate that a significant fraction of the charged hadrons produced at intermediate $p_T$ range are (anti-)protons at both mid-rapidity and $\eta = 2.2$.
$\frac{1}{2\pi p_{\mathrm{T}}}\frac{\mathrm{d}^2N}{\mathrm{d}p_{\mathrm{T}}\mathrm{d}y}$ versus $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ for $\overline{\mathrm{p}}$ in $\mathrm{Au}-\mathrm{Au}$ at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=200\,\mathrm{Ge\!V}$
$\frac{1}{2\pi p_{\mathrm{T}}}\frac{\mathrm{d}^2N}{\mathrm{d}p_{\mathrm{T}}\mathrm{d}y}$ versus $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ for $\mathrm{\pi}^{-}$ in $\mathrm{Au}-\mathrm{Au}$ at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=200\,\mathrm{Ge\!V}$
$\frac{1}{2\pi p_{\mathrm{T}}}\frac{\mathrm{d}^2N}{\mathrm{d}p_{\mathrm{T}}\mathrm{d}y}$ versus $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ for $\mathrm{p}$ in $\mathrm{Au}-\mathrm{Au}$ at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=200\,\mathrm{Ge\!V}$
Particle production of identified charged hadrons, $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, $p$, and $\bar{p}$ in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt(snn) =$ 200 GeV has been studied as a function of transverse momentum and collision centrality at $y=0$ and $y\sim1$ by the BRAHMS experiment at RHIC. Significant collective transverse flow at kinetic freeze-out has been observed in the collisions. The magnitude of the flow rises with the collision centrality. Proton and kaon yields relative to the pion production increase strongly as the transverse momentum increases and also increase with centrality. Particle yields per participant nucleon show a weak dependence on the centrality for all particle species. Hadron production remains relatively constant within one unit around midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt(snn) =$ 200 GeV.
$\frac{1}{2\pi p_{\mathrm{T}}}\frac{\mathrm{d}^2N}{\mathrm{d}p_{\mathrm{T}}\mathrm{d}y}$ versus $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ for $\mathrm{\pi}^{+}$,$\mathrm{\pi}^{-}$,$\mathrm{K}^{+}$,$\mathrm{K}^{-}$,$\mathrm{p}$,$\overline{\mathrm{p}}$ in $\mathrm{Au}-\mathrm{Au}$ at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=200\,\mathrm{Ge\!V}$
$\langle p_{\mathrm{T}}\rangle$ versus $N_{\mathrm{part}}$ for $\mathrm{\pi}^{+}$,$\mathrm{\pi}^{-}$,$\mathrm{K}^{+}$,$\mathrm{K}^{-}$,$\mathrm{p}$,$\overline{\mathrm{p}}$ in $\mathrm{Au}-\mathrm{Au}$ at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=200\,\mathrm{Ge\!V}$
$\beta_{\mathrm{S}}$,$T$,$\chi^2$,$\nu$ versus $\mathrm{Centrality}$ for $\mathrm{h}^{+}$ in $\mathrm{Au}-\mathrm{Au}$ at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=200\,\mathrm{Ge\!V}$
We report on a study of the transverse momentum dependence of nuclear modification factors $R_{dAu}$ for charged hadrons produced in deuteron + gold collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}=\unit[200]{GeV}$, as a function of collision centrality and of the pseudorapidity ($\eta = 0,1,2.2,3.2 $) of the produced hadrons. We find significant and systematic decrease of $R_{dAu}$ with increasing rapidity. The midrapidity enhancement and the forward rapidity suppression are more pronounced in central collisions relative to peripheral collisions. These results are relevant to the study of the possible onset of gluon saturation at RHIC energies.
$\frac{1}{2\pi p_{\mathrm{T}}}\frac{\mathrm{d}^2N}{\mathrm{d}p_{\mathrm{T}}\mathrm{d}y}$ versus $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ for $\frac{h^{+}+h^{-}}{2}$,$\frac{h^{+}+h^{-}}{2}$ in $\mathrm{p}\mathrm{p}$,$\mathrm{d}-\mathrm{Au}$ at $\sqrt{s}=200\,\mathrm{Ge\!V}$ near $\eta=0$
$\frac{1}{2\pi p_{\mathrm{T}}}\frac{\mathrm{d}^2N}{\mathrm{d}p_{\mathrm{T}}\mathrm{d}y}$ versus $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ for $\frac{h^{+}+h^{-}}{2}$,$\frac{h^{+}+h^{-}}{2}$ in $\mathrm{p}\mathrm{p}$,$\mathrm{d}-\mathrm{Au}$ at $\sqrt{s}=200\,\mathrm{Ge\!V}$ near $\eta=1$
$\frac{1}{2\pi p_{\mathrm{T}}}\frac{\mathrm{d}^2N}{\mathrm{d}p_{\mathrm{T}}\mathrm{d}y}$ versus $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ for $\mathrm{h}^{-}$,$\mathrm{h}^{-}$ in $\mathrm{p}\mathrm{p}$,$\mathrm{d}-\mathrm{Au}$ at $\sqrt{s}=200\,\mathrm{Ge\!V}$ near $\eta=2.2$
Charged-particle pseudorapidity densities are presented for the d+Au reaction at sqrt{s_{NN}}=200 GeV with -4.2 <= eta <= 4.2$. The results, from the BRAHMS experiment at RHIC, are shown for minimum-bias events and 0-30%, 30-60%, and 60-80% centrality classes. Models incorporating both soft physics and hard, perturbative QCD-based scattering physics agree well with the experimental results. The data do not support predictions based on strong-coupling, semi-classical QCD. In the deuteron-fragmentation region the central 200 GeV data show behavior similar to full-overlap d+Au results at sqrt{s_{NN}}=19.4 GeV.
$\frac{\mathrm{d}N}{\mathrm{d}\eta}$ versus $\eta$ for $x^{\pm}$ in $\mathrm{d}-\mathrm{Au}$ at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=200\,\mathrm{Ge\!V}$ for $0-30$% central, $30-60$% central, $60-80$% central, Min.Bias
We present spectra of charged hadrons from Au+Au and d+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV measured with the BRAHMS experiment at RHIC. The spectra for different collision centralities are compared to spectra from ${\rm p}+\bar{{\rm p}}$ collisions at the same energy scaled by the number of binary collisions. The resulting ratios (nuclear modification factors) for central Au+Au collisions at $\eta=0$ and $\eta=2.2$ evidence a strong suppression in the high $p_{T}$ region ($>$2 GeV/c). In contrast, the d+Au nuclear modification factor (at $\eta=0$) exhibits an enhancement of the high $p_T$ yields. These measurements indicate a high energy loss of the high $p_T$ particles in the medium created in the central Au+Au collisions. The lack of suppression in d+Au collisions makes it unlikely that initial state effects can explain the suppression in the central Au+Au collisions.
$\frac{1}{2\pi p_{\mathrm{T}}}\frac{\mathrm{d}^2N}{\mathrm{d}p_{\mathrm{T}}\mathrm{d}\eta}$ versus $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ for $\frac{h^{+}+h^{-}}{2}$ in $\mathrm{Au}-\mathrm{Au}$ at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=200\,\mathrm{Ge\!V}$ near $\eta=0$, per centrality
$\frac{1}{2\pi p_{\mathrm{T}}}\frac{\mathrm{d}^2N}{\mathrm{d}p_{\mathrm{T}}\mathrm{d}\eta}$ versus $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ for $\frac{h^{+}+h^{-}}{2}$ in $\mathrm{d}-\mathrm{Au}$ at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=200\,\mathrm{Ge\!V}$ near $\eta=0$
$\frac{1}{2\pi p_{\mathrm{T}}}\frac{\mathrm{d}^2N}{\mathrm{d}p_{\mathrm{T}}\mathrm{d}\eta}$ versus $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ for $\mathrm{h}^{-}$ in $\mathrm{Au}-\mathrm{Au}$ at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=200\,\mathrm{Ge\!V}$ near $\eta=2.2$, per centrality