The event-by-event correlations between three flow amplitudes are measured for the first time in Pb--Pb collisions, using higher-order Symmetric Cumulants. We find that different three-harmonic correlations develop during the collective evolution of the medium, when compared with correlations that exist in the initial state. These new results cannot be interpreted in terms of previous lower-order flow measurements, since contributions from two-harmonic correlations are explicitly removed in the new observables. Comparison with Monte Carlo simulations provides new and independent constraints for the initial conditions and system properties of nuclear matter created in heavy-ion collisions.
Centrality dependence of ${\rm SC}(2,3,4)$ in Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$~TeV.
Centrality dependence of ${\rm SC}(2,3,5)$ in Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$~TeV.
Centrality dependence of ${\rm SC}(2,4,6)$ in Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$~TeV.
Measurements of the inclusive J/$\psi$ yield as a function of charged-particle pseudorapidity density ${\rm d}N_{\rm ch}/\rm{d}\eta$ in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV with ALICE at the LHC are reported. The J/$\psi$ meson yield is measured at midrapidity ($|y|<0.9$) in the dielectron channel, for events selected based on the charged-particle multiplicity at midrapidity ($|\eta|<1$) and at forward rapidity ($-3.7<\eta<-1.7$ and $2.8<\eta<5.1$); both observables are normalized to their corresponding averages in minimum bias events. The increase of the normalized J/$\psi$ yield with normalized ${\rm d}N_{\rm ch}/\rm{d}\eta$ is significantly stronger than linear and dependent on the transverse momentum. The data are compared to theoretical predictions, which describe the observed trends well, albeit not always quantitatively.
$N_{J/psi}/<N_{J/\psi}> / N_{ch}/<N_{ch}>$, $|y^{J/\psi}|<0.9$, $p_{T}^{J/\psi}$ integrated, event selection SPD
$N_{J/psi}/<N_{J/\psi}> / N_{ch}/<N_{ch}>$, $|y^{J/\psi}|<0.9$, $p_{T}^{J/\psi}$ integrated, event selection V0
$N_{J/psi}/<N_{J/\psi}> / N_{ch}/<N_{ch}>$, $|y^{J/\psi}|<0.9$, $p_{T}^{J/\psi}$ 0-4 and 4-8 GeV/c, event selection SPD
Multiplicity ($N_{\rm ch}$) distributions and transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) spectra of inclusive primary charged particles in the kinematic range of $|\eta| < 0.8$ and 0.15 GeV/$c$$< p_{T} <$ 10 GeV/$c$ are reported for pp, p-Pb, Xe-Xe and Pb-Pb collisions at centre-of-mass energies per nucleon pair ranging from $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV up to $13$ TeV. A sequential two-dimensional unfolding procedure is used to extract the correlation between the transverse momentum of primary charged particles and the charged-particle multiplicity of the corresponding collision. This correlation sharply characterises important features of the final state of a collision and, therefore, can be used as a stringent test of theoretical models. The multiplicity distributions as well as the mean and standard deviation derived from the $p_{\rm T}$ spectra are compared to state-of-the-art model predictions. Providing these fundamental observables of bulk particle production consistently across a wide range of collision energies and system sizes can serve as an important input for tuning Monte Carlo event generators.
Charged-particle multiplicity distribution for pp collisions at 2.76 TeV.
Charged-particle multiplicity distribution for pp collisions at 2.76 TeV.
Koba-Nielsen-Olesen scaled charged-particle multiplicity distribution for pp collisions at 2.76 TeV.
We present the measurement of a new set of jet shape observables for track-based jets in central Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}} = 2.76$ TeV. The set of jet shapes includes the first radial moment or angularity, $g$; the momentum dispersion, $p_{\rm T}D$; and the difference between the leading and sub-leading constituent track transverse momentum, $LeSub$. These observables provide complementary information on the jet fragmentation and can constrain different aspects of the theoretical description of jet-medium interactions. The jet shapes were measured for a small resolution parameter $R = 0.2$ and were fully corrected to particle level. The observed jet shape modifications indicate that in-medium fragmentation is harder and more collimated than vacuum fragmentation as obtained by PYTHIA calculations, which were validated with the measurements of the jet shapes in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV. The comparison of the measured distributions to templates for quark and gluon-initiated jets indicates that in-medium fragmentation resembles that of quark jets in vacuum. We further argue that the observed modifications are not consistent with a totally coherent energy loss picture where the jet loses energy as a single colour charge, suggesting that the medium resolves the jet structure at the angular scales probed by our measurements ($R=0.2$). Furthermore, we observe that small-$R$ jets can help to isolate purely energy loss effects from other effects that contribute to the modifications of the jet shower in medium such as the correlated background or medium response.
The inclusive J/$\psi$ meson production in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon-nucleon collision of $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV at midrapidity ($|y|$ < 0.9) is reported by the ALICE Collaboration. The measurements are performed in the dielectron decay channel, as a function of event centrality and J/$\psi$ transverse momentum $p_{\rm T}$, down to $p_{\rm T}$ = 0 GeV/$c$. The J/$\psi$ mean transverse momentum $\langle p_{\rm T} \rangle$ and $r_{\rm AA}$ ratio, defined as $\langle p^{\rm 2}_{\rm T} \rangle_{\rm PbPb}/\langle p^{\rm 2}_{\rm T} \rangle_{\rm pp}$, are evaluated. Both observables show a centrality dependence decreasing towards central (head-on) collisions. The J/$\psi$ nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm AA}$ exhibits a strong $p_{\rm T}$ dependence with a large suppression at high $p_{\rm T}$ and an increase to unity for decreasing $p_{\rm T}$. When integrating over the measured momentum range $p_{\rm T}$ < 10 GeV/$c$, the J/$\psi$ $R_{\rm AA}$ shows a weak centrality dependence. Each measurement is compared with results at lower center-of-mass energies and with ALICE measurements at forward rapidity, as well as to theory calculations. All reported features of the J/$\psi$ production at low $p_{\rm T}$ are consistent with a dominant contribution to the J/$\psi$ yield originating from charm quark (re)combination.
Transverse momentum dependence of the inclusive J/$\psi$ yields in Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV at midrapidity in the centrality intervals 0$-$20%, 20$-$40%, and 40$-$90%.
Inclusive J/$\psi$ $\langle p_{\rm T} \rangle$ in Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV at midrapidity as a function of the mean number of participant nucleons.
Inclusive J/$\psi$ $r_{\rm AA} = \langle p^{2}_{\rm T} \rangle_{\rm PbPb} / \langle p^{2}_{\rm T} \rangle_{\rm pp}$ in Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV at midrapidity as a function of the mean number of participant nucleons. The correlated systematic uncertainty due to the pp reference is not included and amounts to 4.7%, shown as the red box around unity in the paper figure.
The correlations between different moments of two flow amplitudes, extracted with the recently developed asymmetric cumulants, are measured in Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV recorded by the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The magnitudes of the measured observables show a dependence on the different moments as well as on the collision centrality, indicating the presence of non-linear response in all even moments up to the eighth. Furthermore, the higher-order asymmetric cumulants show different signatures than the symmetric and lower-order asymmetric cumulants. Comparisons with state-of-the-art event generators using two different parametrizations obtained from Bayesian optimization show differences between data and simulations in many of the studied observables, indicating a need for further tuning of the models behind those event generators. These results provide new and independent constraints on the initial conditions and transport properties of the system created in heavy-ion collisions.
Centrality dependence of ${\rm SC}(2,3)$ in Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV.
Centrality dependence of ${\rm AC}_{2,1}(2,3)$ in Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV.
Centrality dependence of ${\rm AC}_{1,2}(2,3)$ in Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV.
The first measurements of elliptic flow of $\pi^\pm$, ${\rm K}^\pm$, p+$\overline{\rm p}$, ${\rm K_{S}^0}$, $\Lambda$+$\overline{\Lambda}$, $\phi$, $\Xi^-$+$\Xi^+$, and $\Omega^-$+$\Omega^+$ using multiparticle cumulants in Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV are presented. Results obtained with two- ($v_2\{2\}$) and four-particle cumulants ($v_2\{4\}$) are shown as a function of transverse momentum, $p_{\rm T}$, for various collision centrality intervals. Combining the data for both $v_2\{2\}$ and $v_2\{4\}$ also allows us to report the first measurements of the mean elliptic flow, elliptic flow fluctuations, and relative elliptic flow fluctuations for various hadron species. These observables probe the event-by-event eccentricity fluctuations in the initial state and the contributions from the dynamic evolution of the expanding quark-gluon plasma. The characteristic features observed in previous $p_{\rm T}$-differential anisotropic flow measurements for identified hadrons with two-particle correlations, namely the mass ordering at low $p_{\rm T}$ and the approximate scaling with the number of constituent quarks at intermediate $p_{\rm T}$, are similarly present in the four-particle correlations and the combinations of $v_2\{2\}$ and $v_2\{4\}$. In addition, a particle species dependence of flow fluctuations is observed that could indicate a significant contribution from final state hadronic interactions. The comparison between experimental measurements and CoLBT model calculations, which combine the various physics processes of hydrodynamics, quark coalescence, and jet fragmentation, illustrates their importance over a wide $p_{\rm T}$ range.
Angular correlations of heavy-flavour and charged particles in high-energy proton-proton collisions are sensitive to the production mechanisms of heavy quarks and to their fragmentation as well as hadronisation processes. The measurement of the azimuthal-correlation function of prompt D mesons with charged particles in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV with the ALICE detector is reported, considering D$^{0}$, D$^{+}$, and D$^{*+}$ mesons in the transverse-momentum interval $3 < p_{\rm T} < 36$ GeV/$c$ at midrapidity ($|y| < 0.5$), and charged particles with $p_{\rm T} > 0.3$ GeV/$c$ and pseudorapidity $|\eta| < 0.8$. This measurement has an improved precision and provides an extended transverse-momentum coverage compared to previous ALICE measurements at lower energies. The study is also performed as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity, showing no modifications of the correlation function with multiplicity within uncertainties. The properties and the transverse-momentum evolution of the near- and away-side correlation peaks are studied and compared with predictions from various Monte Carlo event generators. Among those considered, PYTHIA8 and POWHEG+PYTHIA8 provide the best description of the measured observables. The obtained results can provide guidance on tuning the generators.
Comparison of the azimuthal-correlation distributions of D mesons (average of D$^{0}$, D$^{+}$, and D$^{*+}$) with $3 < p_{\rm T} < 5$ GeV/$c$ and charged particles with $0.3 < p_{\rm T} < 1$ GeV/$c$, in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = $5, 7, and 13 TeV, after baseline subtraction. Rapidity range for the D mesons is $|y^{\rm D}_{\rm cms}| < 0.5$. Correlations are integrated for $|\Delta\eta|=|\eta_{\rm ch}-\eta_{\rm D}| < 1$. The azimuthal-correlation distributions are reported in the range $0 < \Delta\varphi < \pi$.
Comparison of the azimuthal-correlation distributions of D mesons (average of D$^{0}$, D$^{+}$, and D$^{*+}$) with $8 < p_{\rm T} < 16$ GeV/$c$ and charged particles with $0.3 < p_{\rm T} < 1$ GeV/$c$, in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = $5, 7, and 13 TeV, after baseline subtraction. Rapidity range for the D mesons is $|y^{\rm D}_{\rm cms}| < 0.5$. Correlations are integrated for $|\Delta\eta|=|\eta_{\rm ch}-\eta_{\rm D}| < 1$. The azimuthal-correlation distributions are reported in the range $0 < \Delta\varphi < \pi$.
Comparison of the azimuthal-correlation distributions of D mesons (average of D$^{0}$, D$^{+}$, and D$^{*+}$) with $16 < p_{\rm T} < 24$ GeV/$c$ and charged particles with $0.3 < p_{\rm T} < 1$ GeV/$c$, in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = $5, 7, and 13 TeV, after baseline subtraction. Rapidity range for the D mesons is $|y^{\rm D}_{\rm cms}| < 0.5$. Correlations are integrated for $|\Delta\eta|=|\eta_{\rm ch}-\eta_{\rm D}| < 1$. The azimuthal-correlation distributions are reported in the range $0 < \Delta\varphi < \pi$.
Mid-rapidity production of $\pi^{\pm}$, $\rm{K}^{\pm}$ and ($\bar{\rm{p}}$)p measured by the ALICE experiment at the LHC, in Pb-Pb and inelastic pp collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV, is presented. The invariant yields are measured over a wide transverse momentum ($p_{\rm{T}}$) range from hundreds of MeV/$c$ up to 20 GeV/$c$. The results in Pb-Pb collisions are presented as a function of the collision centrality, in the range 0$-$90%. The comparison of the $p_{\rm{T}}$-integrated particle ratios, i.e. proton-to-pion (p/$\pi$) and kaon-to-pion (K/$\pi$) ratios, with similar measurements in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$ = 2.76 TeV show no significant energy dependence. Blast-wave fits of the $p_{\rm{T}}$ spectra indicate that in the most central collisions radial flow is slightly larger at 5.02 TeV with respect to 2.76 TeV. Particle ratios (p/$\pi$, K/$\pi$) as a function of $p_{\rm{T}}$ show pronounced maxima at $p_{\rm{T}}$ $\approx$ 3 GeV/$c$ in central Pb-Pb collisions. At high $p_{\rm{T}}$, particle ratios at 5.02 TeV are similar to those measured in pp collisions at the same energy and in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$ = 2.76 TeV. Using the pp reference spectra measured at the same collision energy of 5.02 TeV, the nuclear modification factors for the different particle species are derived. Within uncertainties, the nuclear modification factor is particle species independent for high $p_{\rm{T}}$ and compatible with measurements at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$ = 2.76 TeV. The results are compared to state-of-the-art model calculations, which are found to describe the observed trends satisfactorily.
$p_{T}$-distributions of pions ($\pi^{+}+\pi^{-}$) measured in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV.
$p_{T}$-distributions of pions ($\pi^{+}+\pi^{-}$) measured in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 TeV.
$p_{T}$-distributions of kaons ($K^{+}+K^{-}$) measured in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV.
The global polarization of the $\Lambda$ and $\overline\Lambda$ hyperons is measured for Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$ = 2.76 and 5.02 TeV recorded with the ALICE at the LHC. The results are reported differentially as a function of collision centrality and hyperon's transverse momentum ($p_{\rm{T}}$) for the range of centrality 5-50%, $0.5 < p_{\rm{T}} <5$ GeV/$c$, and rapidity $|y|<0.5$. The hyperon global polarization averaged for Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$ = 2.76 and 5.02 TeV is found to be consistent with zero, $\langle P_{\rm{H}}\rangle$ (%) $\approx$ - 0.01 $\pm$ 0.05 (stat.) $\pm$ 0.03 (syst.) in the collision centrality range 15-50%, where the largest signal is expected. The results are compatible with expectations based on an extrapolation from measurements at lower collision energies at RHIC, hydrodynamical model calculations, and empirical estimates based on collision energy dependence of directed flow, all of which predict the global polarization values at LHC energies of the order of 0.01%.
The correction $R_{\mathrm{SP}}^{(1)}$ for finite resolution of the spectator plane angle $\Psi_{\mathrm{SP}}$ as a function of collision centrality for LHC10h data set.
The correction $R_{\mathrm{SP}}^{(1)}$ for finite resolution of the spectator plane angle $\Psi_{\mathrm{SP}}$ as a function of collision centrality for LHC10h data set.
The correction $R_{\mathrm{SP}}^{(1)}$ for finite resolution of the spectator plane angle $\Psi_{\mathrm{SP}}$ as a function of collision centrality for LHC11h data set.