Inclusive transverse momentum distributions of charged hadrons within 0.2
Inclusive $p_T$ distributions of ($h^+ + h^−)/2$. Non-central bins are scaled down by the indicated factors. The combined statistical and systematic errors are shown. Curves are fits to Eq. (2). Hash marks at the top indicate bin boundaries for $p_T>1.5$ GeV/c.
Ratio of charged hadron yields within $|\eta| < 0.5$ for central over peripheral collisions, normalized to $\langle Nbin\rangle$.
$R_{AA}$($p_T$) for various centrality bins, for Au+Au relative to an NN reference spectrum. Error bars are described in the text. Errors between different $p_T$ and centrality bins are highly correlated.
Azimuthal anisotropy ($v_2$) and two-particle angular correlations of high $p_T$ charged hadrons have been measured in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=130 GeV for transverse momenta up to 6 GeV/c, where hard processes are expected to contribute significantly. The two-particle angular correlations exhibit elliptic flow and a structure suggestive of fragmentation of high $p_T$ partons. The monotonic rise of $v_2(p_T)$ for $p_T<2$ GeV/c is consistent with collective hydrodynamical flow calculations. At $\pT>3$ GeV/c a saturation of $v_2$ is observed which persists up to $p_T=6$ GeV/c.
$v_{2}$($p_{T}$) for different collision centralities. The errors are statistical only. The systematic uncertainties, which are highly correlated point-to-point, are $^{+5}_{-20}%$.
$v_{2}$($p_{T}$) for minimum-bias events (circles). The error bars represent the statistical errors and the caps show the systematic uncertainty. The data are compared with hydro+pQCD calculations [9] assuming the initial gluon density $dN^{g}/dy$ = 1000 (dashed line), 500 (dotted line), and 200 (dashed-dotted line). Also shown are pure hydrodynamical calculations [16] (solid line).
High $p_{T}$ azimuthal correlation functions for central events. Upper panel: Correlation function for $|\Delta\eta|$ < 0.5 (solid circles) and scaled correlation function for 0.5 < $|\Delta\eta|$ < 1.4 (open squares). Lower panel: Difference of the two correlation functions. Also shown are the fits to the data (described in the text).
Mid-rapidity transverse mass spectra and multiplicity densities of charged and neutral kaons are reported for Au+Au collisions at $\snn$=130 GeV at RHIC. The spectra are exponential in transverse mass, with an inverse slope of about 280 MeV in central collisions. The multiplicity densities for these particles scale with the negative hadron pseudo-rapidity density. The charged kaon to pion ratios are $K^+/\pi^- = 0.161 \pm 0.002 {\rm (stat)} \pm 0.024 {\rm (syst)}$ and $K^-/\pi^- = 0.146 \pm 0.002 {\rm (stat)} \pm 0.022 {\rm (syst)}$ for the most central collisions. The $K^+/\pi^-$ ratio is lower than the same ratio observed at the SPS while the $K^-/\pi^-$ is higher than the SPS result. Both ratios are enhanced by about 50% relative to p+p and $\bar{\rm p}$+p collision data at similar energies.
Transverse mass distributions for different centralities: dE/dx identified charged kaons. K+
Transverse mass distributions for different centralities: dE/dx identified charged kaons. K-
Transverse mass distributions for different centralities: Neutral Kaons.
Elliptic flow holds much promise for studying the early-time thermalization attained in ultrarelativistic nuclear collisions. Flow measurements also provide a means of distinguishing between hydrodynamic models and calculations which approach the low density (dilute gas) limit. Among the effects that can complicate the interpretation of elliptic flow measurements are azimuthal correlations that are unrelated to the reaction plane (non-flow correlations). Using data for Au + Au collisions at sqrt{s_{NN}} = 130 GeV from the STAR TPC, it is found that four-particle correlation analyses can reliably separate flow and non-flow correlation signals. The latter account for on average about 15% of the observed second-harmonic azimuthal correlation, with the largest relative contribution for the most peripheral and the most central collisions. The results are also corrected for the effect of flow variations within centrality bins. This effect is negligible for all but the most central bin, where the correction to the elliptic flow is about a factor of two. A simple new method for two-particle flow analysis based on scalar products is described. An analysis based on the distribution of the magnitude of the flow vector is also described.
Correlation between the event plane angles determined from pairs of subevents partitioned randomly (circles), partitioned with opposite signs of pseudorapidity (squares) and partitioned with opposite signs of charge (crosses). The correlation is plotted as a function of centrality, namely, charged particle multiplicity $n_{ch}$ divided by the maximum observed charged multiplicity, $n_{max}$.
The event plane resolution for full events as a function of centrality, using randomly partitioned subevents with (circles) and without (triangles) $p_{t}$ weight.
Elliptic flow signal $v_{2}$ as a function of centrality, from study of the correlation between particle pairs consisting of randomly chosen particles (circles), particles with opposite signs of charge (crosses), particles with the same signs of charge (triangles), and particles with opposite signs of pseudorapidity (squares).
The STAR collaboration reports the first observation of exclusive rho^0 photo-production, AuAu->AuAu rho^0, and rho^0 production accompanied by mutual nuclear Coulomb excitation, AuAu->Au*Au*rho^0, in ultra-peripheral heavy-ion collisions. The rho^0 have low transverse momenta, consistent with coherent coupling to both nuclei. The cross sections at sqrt(s_NN)=130GeV agree with theoretical predictions treating rho^0 production and Coulomb excitation as independent processes.
Differential cross section $d\sigma(\gamma Au \rightarrow \rho Au)/dt$ of $\rho^0$ candidates
Differential cross section $d\sigma/dM_{\pi\pi}$ for two-track (xn,xn) events with pair $p_T<150$ MeV/$c$
Total background in the differential cross section $d\sigma/dM_{\pi\pi}$
PHENIX has measured the centrality dependence of charged hadron p_T spectra from central Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=130 GeV. The truncated mean p_T decreases with centrality for p_T > 2 GeV/c, indicating an apparent reduction of the contribution from hard scattering to high p_T hadron production. For central collisions the yield at high p_T is shown to be suppressed compared to binary nucleon-nucleon collision scaling of p+p data. This suppression is monotonically increasing with centrality, but most of the change occurs below 30% centrality, i.e. for collisions with less than about 140 participating nucleons. The observed p_T and centrality dependence is consistent with the particle production predicted by models including hard scattering and subsequent energy loss of the scattered partons in the dense matter created in the collisions.
Number of participants and binary collisions and their systematic errors for the individual centrality selections used in this analysis. Also given is the ratio of the number of binary collisions for the most central sample relative to the one for each sample. The last column quantifies the ratio of binary collisions to participant pairs.
The ratio $p/h$ represents the proton plus anti-proton yield relative to the total charged hadron multiplicity. This shows the $p_T$ dependence of $p/h$ for minimum bias events.
The ratio $p/h$ represents the proton plus anti-proton yield relative to the total charged hadron multiplicity. This shows the centrality dependence of $p/h$ for $p_T >$ 1.8 GeV/$c$.
Azimuthal correlations for large transverse momentum charged hadrons have been measured over a wide pseudo-rapidity range and full azimuth in Au+Au and p+p collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. The small-angle correlations observed in p+p collisions and at all centralities of Au+Au collisions are characteristic of hard-scattering processes already observed in elementary collisions. A strong back-to-back correlation exists for p+p and peripheral Au + Au. In contrast, the back-to-back correlations are reduced considerably in the most central Au+Au collisions, indicating substantial interaction as the hard-scattered partons or their fragmentation products traverse the medium.
Azimuthal distributions of opposite-sign pairs in p+p collisions. All correlation functions require a trigger particle with $4<p_T^{\rm trig}<6$ GeV/$c$ and associated particles with $2<p_T<p_T^{\rm trig}$ GeV/$c$.
Azimuthal distributions of same-sign pairs in p+p collisions. All correlation functions require a trigger particle with $4<p_T^{\rm trig}<6$ GeV/$c$ and associated particles with $2<p_T<p_T^{\rm trig}$ GeV/$c$.
Azimuthal distributions of same-sign and opposite-sign pairs in minimum bias and background-subtracted 0-10% central Au+Au collisions. All correlation functions require a trigger particle with $4<p_T^{\rm trig}<6$ GeV/$c$ and associated particles with $2<p_T<p_T^{\rm trig}$ GeV/$c$.
Values of the ratios in the mid-rapidity yields of anti-Lambda/Lambda = 0.71 +/- 0.01(stat.) +/- 0.04(sys.), anti-Xi+/Xi- = 0.83 +/- 0.04(stat.) +/- 0.05 (sys.), anti-Omega+/Omega- = 0.95 +/- 0.15(stat) +/- 0.05(sys.) and K+/K- 1.092 +/- 0.023(combined) were obtained in central sqrt(s_NN) = 130 GeV Au+Au collisions using the STAR detector. The ratios indicate that a fraction of the net-baryon number from the initial system is present in the excess of hyperons over anti-hyperons at mid-rapidity. The trend in the progression of the baryon ratios, with increasing strange quark content, is similar to that observed in heavy-ion collisions at lower energies. The value of these ratios may be related to the charged kaon ratio in the framework of simple quark-counting and thermal models.
Invariant mass distributions for $\Lambda$ and Anti-$\Lambda$
Invariant mass distributions for $\Xi$ and Anti-$\Xi$
Invariant mass distributions for $\Omega$ and Anti-$\Omega$
The balance function is a new observable based on the principle that charge is locally conserved when particles are pair produced. Balance functions have been measured for charged particle pairs and identified charged pion pairs in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 130 GeV at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider using STAR. Balance functions for peripheral collisions have widths consistent with model predictions based on a superposition of nucleon-nucleon scattering. Widths in central collisions are smaller, consistent with trends predicted by models incorporating late hadronization.
The balance function versus ∆η for charged particle pairs from a) central and peripheral Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 130 GeV and mixed events from central and peripheral Au+Au collisions, and b) HIJING events filtered with GEANT [16] and shuffled pseudorapidity events from central and peripheral Au+Au collisions. To guide the eye, Gaussian fits excluding the lowest bin in ∆η are shown. The error bars shown are statistical. The balance function for HIJING events is independent of centrality.
The balance function versus ∆η for charged particle pairs from a) central and peripheral Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 130 GeV and mixed events from central and peripheral Au+Au collisions, and b) HIJING events filtered with GEANT [16] and shuffled pseudorapidity events from central and peripheral Au+Au collisions. To guide the eye, Gaussian fits excluding the lowest bin in ∆η are shown. The error bars shown are statistical. The balance function for HIJING events is independent of centrality.
The width of the balance function for charged particles, $⟨\Delta \eta⟩$, as a function of normalized impact parameter $(b/b_{max})$. Error bars shown are statistical. The width of the balance function from HIJING events is shown as a band whose height reflects the statistical uncertainty. Also shown are the widths from the shuffled pseudorapidity events.
The invariant differential cross section for inclusive neutral pion production in p+p collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV has been measured at mid-rapidity |eta| < 0.35 over the range 1 < p_T <~ 14 GeV/c by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC. Predictions of next-to-leading order perturbative QCD calculations are consistent with these measurements. The precision of our result is sufficient to differentiate between prevailing gluon-to-pion fragmentation functions.
The invariant differential cross section as a function of PT. The mean PT here is defined as the PT for which the cross section equals its average over thebin.