Disentangling centrality bias and final-state effects in the production of high-$p_T$$\pi^0$ using direct $\gamma$ in $d$$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV

The PHENIX collaboration Abdulameer, N.J. ; Acharya, U. ; Aidala, C. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.Lett. 134 (2025) 022302, 2025.
Inspire Record 2645172 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.152620

PHENIX presents a simultaneous measurement of the production of direct $\gamma$ and $\pi^0$ in $d$$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV over a $p_T$ range of 7.5 to 18 GeV/$c$ for different event samples selected by event activity, i.e. charged-particle multiplicity detected at forward rapidity. Direct-photon yields are used to empirically estimate the contribution of hard-scattering processes in the different event samples. Using this estimate, the average nuclear-modification factor $R_{d\rm Au,EXP}^{\gamma^{\rm dir}}$ is $0.925{\pm}0.023({\rm stat}){\pm}0.15^{\rm (scale)}$, consistent with unity for minimum-bias (MB) $d$$+$Au events. For event classes with moderate event activity, $R_{d\rm Au,EXP}^{\gamma^{\rm dir}}$ is consistent with the MB value within 5% uncertainty. These results confirm that the previously observed enhancement of high-$p_T$$\pi^0$ production found in small-system collisions with low event activity is a result of a bias in interpreting event activity within the Glauber framework. In contrast, for the top 5% of events with the highest event activity, $R_{d\rm Au,EXP}^{\gamma^{\rm dir}}$ is suppressed by 20% relative to the MB value with a significance of $4.5\sigma$, which may be due to final-state effects.

8 data tables

The $p_{T}$ distribution at high $p_{T}$ of neutral pions (panel (a)) for different d+Au event activity classes compared to those from p+p collisions (Phys. Rev. C 105, 064902).

The $p_{T}$ distribution at high $p_{T}$ of direct photons (panel (b)) for different d+Au event activity classes compared to those from p+p collisions (Phys. Rev. D 86, 072008).

Panel (c) shows the ratio $\gamma^{dir}/\pi^{0}$. For better visibility the points are slightly shifted in $p_{T}$ .

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Direct photon production in d+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV

The PHENIX collaboration Adare, A. ; Adler, S.S. ; Afanasiev, S. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.C 87 (2013) 054907, 2013.
Inspire Record 1126017 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.142660

Direct photons have been measured in sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV d+Au collisions at midrapidity. A wide p_T range is covered by measurements of nearly-real virtual photons (1<p_T<6 GeV/c) and real photons (5<p_T<16 GeV/c). The invariant yield of the direct photons in d+Au collisions over the scaled p+p cross section is consistent with unity. Theoretical calculations assuming standard cold nuclear matter effects describe the data well for the entire p_T range. This indicates that the large enhancement of direct photons observed in Au+Au collisions for 1.0<p_T<2.5 GeV/c is due to a source other than the initial-state nuclear effects.

10 data tables

Direct photon fraction. The direct-photon fractions from the virtual-photon analysis as a function of $p_{T}$ in $p+p$ (MB) [1] collisions. The values in the table are equal to this mean value. The statistical and systematic uncertainties are shown by the bars and bands, respectively. The curves show expectations from a NLO pQCD calculation [17, 18] with different cutoff mass scales: (solid) $\mu$ = 0.5 $p_{T}$ , (dash) $\mu$ = 1.0 $p_{T}$ , and (dash-dot) $\mu$ = 2.0 $p_{T}$.

Direct photon fraction. The direct-photon fractions from the virtual-photon analysis as a function of $p_{T}$ in $d$+Au (MB) [1] collisions. The values in the table are equal to this mean value. The statistical and systematic uncertainties are shown by the bars and bands, respectively. The curves show expectations from a NLO pQCD calculation [17, 18] with different cutoff mass scales: (solid) $\mu$ = 0.5 $p_{T}$ , (dash) $\mu$ = 1.0 $p_{T}$ , and (dash-dot) $\mu$ = 2.0 $p_{T}$.

Direct photon cross section. (a) The invariant cross sections of the direct photon in $p+p$ [3, 4] and $d$+Au collisions. The $p+p$ fit result with the empirical parameterization described in the text is shown as well as NLO pQCD calculations, and the scaled $p+p$ fit is compared with the $d$+Au data. The closed and open symbols show the results from the virtual photon and $\pi_{0}$-tagging methods, respectively. The asterisk symbols show the result from the statistical subtraction method for $d$+Au data, overlapping with the virtual photon result in 3 < $p_{T}$ < 5 GeV/c. The values in the table are equal to this mean value. The bars and bands represent the point-to-point (ptp.) and $p_{T}$-correlated (cor.) uncertainties, respectively. (b) The $p+p$ data over the fit. The uncertainties of the fit due to both point-to-point (ptp.) and pT -correlated uncertainties of the data are summed quadratically, and the sum is shown as dotted lines. The NLO pQCD calculations divided by the fit are also shown.

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Measurement of Direct Photons in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV

The PHENIX collaboration Afanasiev, S. ; Aidala, C. ; Ajitanand, N.N. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.Lett. 109 (2012) 152302, 2012.
Inspire Record 1116179 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.110427

We report the measurement of direct photons at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt{s_NN} = 200 GeV. The direct photon signal was extracted for the transverse-momentum range of 4 GeV/c < p_T < 22 GeV/c, using a statistical method to subtract decay photons from the inclusive-photon sample. The direct-photon nuclear-modification factor R_AA was calculated as a function of p_T for different Au+Au collision centralities using the measured p+p direct-photon spectrum and compared to theoretical predictions. R_AA was found to be consistent with unity for all centralities over the entire measured p_T range. Theoretical models that account for modifications of initial-direct-photon production due to modified-parton-distribution functions in Au and the different isospin composition of the nuclei, predict a modest change of R_AA from unity and are consistent with the data. Models with compensating effects of the quark-gluon plasma on high-energy photons, such as suppression of jet-fragmentation photons and induced-photon bremsstrahlung from partons traversing the medium, are also consistent with this measurement.

2 data tables

Direct photon spectra for all centrality selections in Au+Au.

Direct photon nuclear modification factor ($R_{AA}$)


Detailed measurement of the $e^+ e^-$ pair continuum in $p+p$ and Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200$ GeV and implications for direct photon production

The PHENIX collaboration Adare, A. ; Afanasiev, S. ; Aidala, C. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.C 81 (2010) 034911, 2010.
Inspire Record 838580 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.145190

PHENIX has measured the e^+e^- pair continuum in sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV Au+Au and p+p collisions over a wide range of mass and transverse momenta. The e^+e^- yield is compared to the expectations from hadronic sources, based on PHENIX measurements. In the intermediate mass region, between the masses of the phi and the J/psi meson, the yield is consistent with expectations from correlated c^bar-c production, though other mechanisms are not ruled out. In the low mass region (below the phi) the p+p inclusive mass spectrum is well described by known contributions from light meson decays. In contrast, the Au+Au minimum bias inclusive mass spectrum in this region shows an enhancement by a factor of 4.7+/-0.4(stat)+/-1.5(syst)+/-0.9(model) At low mass (m_ee<0.3 GeV/c^2) and high p_T (1<p_T<5 GeV/c) an enhanced e^+e^- pair yield is observed that is consistent with production of virtual direct photons. This excess is used to infer the yield of real direct photons. In central Au+Au collisions, the excess of the direct photon yield over the p+p is exponential in p_T, with inverse slope T=221+/-19(stat)+/-19(syst) MeV. Hydrodynamical models with initial temperatures ranging from T_init ~=300--600 MeV at times of 0.6--0.15 fm/c after the collision are in qualitative agreement with the direct photon data in Au+Au. For low p_T<1 GeV/c the low mass region shows a further significant enhancement that increases with centrality and has an inverse slope of T ~=100 MeV. Theoretical models under predict the low mass, low p_T enhancement.

113 data tables

(Color online) Inclusive mass spectrum of $e^+e^-$ pairs in the PHENIX acceptance in $p$+$p$ collisions compared to the expectations from the decays of light hadrons and correlated decays of charm, bottom, and Drell-Yan. The contribution from hadron decays is independently normalized based on meson measurements in PHENIX. The bottom panel shows the ratio of data to the cocktail of known sources. The systematic uncertainties of the data are shown as boxes, while the uncertainty on the cocktail is shown as band around 1.

(Color online) Inclusive mass spectrum of $e^+e^-$ pairs in the PHENIX acceptance in minimum-bias Au+Au compared to expectations from the decays of light hadrons and correlated decays of charm, bottom, and Drell-Yan. The charm contribution expected if the dynamic correlation of $c$ and $\bar{c}$ is removed is shown separately. Statistical (bars) and systematic (boxes) uncertainties are shown separately. The contribution from hadron decays is independently normalized based on meson measurements in PHENIX. The bottom panel shows the ratio of data to the cocktail of known sources. The systematic uncertainties of the data are shown as boxes, while the uncertainty on the cocktail is shown as band around 1.

(Color online) Inclusive mass spectrum of $e^+e^-$ pairs in the PHENIX acceptance in minimum-bias Au+Au compared to expectations from the decays of light hadrons and correlated decays of charm, bottom, and Drell-Yan. The charm contribution expected if the dynamic correlation of $c$ and $\bar{c}$ is removed is shown separately. Statistical (bars) and systematic (boxes) uncertainties are shown separately. The contribution from hadron decays is independently normalized based on meson measurements in PHENIX. The bottom panel shows the ratio of data to the cocktail of known sources. The systematic uncertainties of the data are shown as boxes, while the uncertainty on the cocktail is shown as band around 1.

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