Observation of the antimatter helium-4 nucleus

The STAR collaboration Agakishiev, H. ; Aggarwal, M.M. ; Ahammed, Z. ; et al.
Nature 473 (2011) 353, 2011.
Inspire Record 893021 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.58495

High-energy nuclear collisions create an energy density similar to that of the universe microseconds after the Big Bang, and in both cases, matter and antimatter are formed with comparable abundance. However, the relatively short-lived expansion in nuclear collisions allows antimatter to decouple quickly from matter, and avoid annihilation. Thus, a high energy accelerator of heavy nuclei is an efficient means of producing and studying antimatter. The antimatter helium-4 nucleus ($^4\bar{He}$), also known as the anti-{\alpha} ($\bar{\alpha}$), consists of two antiprotons and two antineutrons (baryon number B=-4). It has not been observed previously, although the {\alpha} particle was identified a century ago by Rutherford and is present in cosmic radiation at the 10% level. Antimatter nuclei with B < -1 have been observed only as rare products of interactions at particle accelerators, where the rate of antinucleus production in high-energy collisions decreases by about 1000 with each additional antinucleon. We present the observation of the antimatter helium-4 nucleus, the heaviest observed antinucleus. In total 18 $^4\bar{He}$ counts were detected at the STAR experiment at RHIC in 10$^9$ recorded Au+Au collisions at center-of-mass energies of 200 GeV and 62 GeV per nucleon-nucleon pair. The yield is consistent with expectations from thermodynamic and coalescent nucleosynthesis models, which has implications beyond nuclear physics.

1 data table

Differential invariant yields of (anti)baryons evaluated at pT/B =0.875 GeV/c, in central 200 GeV Au+Au collisions.


High $p_{T}$ non-photonic electron production in $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV

The STAR collaboration Agakishiev, H. ; Aggarwal, M.M. ; Ahammed, Z. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.D 83 (2011) 052006, 2011.
Inspire Record 889563 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.96051

We present the measurement of non-photonic electron production at high transverse momentum ($p_T > $ 2.5 GeV/$c$) in $p$ + $p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV using data recorded during 2005 and 2008 by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The measured cross-sections from the two runs are consistent with each other despite a large difference in photonic background levels due to different detector configurations. We compare the measured non-photonic electron cross-sections with previously published RHIC data and pQCD calculations. Using the relative contributions of B and D mesons to non-photonic electrons, we determine the integrated cross sections of electrons ($\frac{e^++e^-}{2}$) at 3 GeV/$c < p_T <~$10 GeV/$c$ from bottom and charm meson decays to be ${d\sigma_{(B\to e)+(B\to D \to e)} \over dy_e}|_{y_e=0}$ = 4.0$\pm0.5$({\rm stat.})$\pm1.1$({\rm syst.}) nb and ${d\sigma_{D\to e} \over dy_e}|_{y_e=0}$ = 6.2$\pm0.7$({\rm stat.})$\pm1.5$({\rm syst.}) nb, respectively.

48 data tables

The electron pair invariant mass distributions for electrons at $2.5 < p_{T} < 3.0$ GeV/c

The electron pair invariant mass distributions for electrons at $8 < p_{T} < 10$ GeV/c

The simulated electron pair invariant mass distributions for electrons at $2.5 < p_{T} < 3$ GeV/c

More…

Studies of di-jet survival and surface emission bias in Au+Au collisions via angular correlations with respect to back-to-back leading hadrons

The STAR collaboration Agakishiev, H. ; Aggarwal, M.M. ; Ahammed, Z. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.C 83 (2011) 061901, 2011.
Inspire Record 889553 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.102950

We report first results from an analysis based on a new multi-hadron correlation technique, exploring jet-medium interactions and di-jet surface emission bias at RHIC. Pairs of back-to-back high transverse momentum hadrons are used for triggers to study associated hadron distributions. In contrast with two- and three-particle correlations with a single trigger with similar kinematic selections, the associated hadron distribution of both trigger sides reveals no modification in either relative pseudo-rapidity or relative azimuthal angle from d+Au to central Au+Au collisions. We determine associated hadron yields and spectra as well as production rates for such correlated back-to-back triggers to gain additional insights on medium properties.

7 data tables

Projections of 2+1 correlation on $\Delta\phi$ for 200 GeV top 12% central-triggered and mid-central Au+Au and minimum bias d+Au data.

Projections of 2+1 correlation on $\Delta\eta$ for 200 GeV top 12% central-triggered and mid-central Au+Au and minimum bias d+Au data.

Transverse momentum distributions per trigger pair for the same- and away-side hadrons associated with di-jet triggers (|$\Delta\phi$| < 0.5, |$\Delta\eta$| < 0.5).

More…

Measurements of Dihadron Correlations Relative to the Event Plane in Au+Au Collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV

The STAR collaboration Agakishiev, H. ; Aggarwal, M.M. ; Ahammed, Z. ; et al.
Chin.Phys.C 45 (2021) 044002, 2021.
Inspire Record 872067 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.102351

Dihadron azimuthal correlations containing a high transverse momentum ($p_T$) trigger particle are sensitive to the properties of the nuclear medium created at RHIC through the strong interactions occurring between the traversing parton and the medium, i.e. jet-quenching. Previous measurements revealed a strong modification to dihadron azimuthal correlations in Au+Au collisions with respect to p+p and d+Au collisions. The modification increases with the collision centrality, suggesting a path-length or energy density dependence to the jet-quenching effect. This paper reports STAR measurements of dihadron azimuthal correlations in mid-central (20-60%) Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm NN}}}=200$ GeV as a function of the trigger particle's azimuthal angle relative to the event plane, $\phi_s=|\phi_t-\psi_{\rm EP}|$. The azimuthal correlation is studied as a function of both the trigger and associated particle $p_T$. The subtractions of the combinatorial background and anisotropic flow, assuming Zero Yield At Minimum (ZYAM), are described. The correlation results are first discussed with subtraction of the even harmonic (elliptic and quadrangular) flow backgrounds. The away-side correlation is strongly modified, and the modification varies with $\phi_s$, with a double-peak structure for out-of-plane trigger particles. The near-side ridge (long range pseudo-rapidity $\Delta\eta$ correlation) appears to drop with increasing $\phi_s$ while the jet-like component remains approximately constant. The correlation functions are further studied with subtraction of odd harmonic triangular flow background arising from fluctuations. It is found that the triangular flow, while responsible for the majority of the amplitudes, is not sufficient to explain the $\phi_s$-dependence of the ridge or the away-side double-peak structure. ...

944 data tables

red data points

black histogram

flow background with default flow Au+Au 20-60%, 4<p_{\text{T}}^{(t)}<6 GeV/c, 2<p_{\text{T}}^{(a)}<4 GeV/c, slice 0

More…