Measurement of D$^0$ meson photoproduction in ultraperipheral heavy ion collisions

The CMS collaboration Chekhovsky, Vladimir ; Hayrapetyan, Aram ; Makarenko, Vladimir ; et al.
CMS-HIN-24-003, 2025.
Inspire Record 2968597 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.156822

This Letter reports the first measurement of photonuclear D$^0$ meson production in ultraperipheral heavy ion collisions. The study is performed using lead-lead collision data, with an integrated luminosity of 1.38 nb$^{-1}$, collected by the CMS experiment at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 5.36 TeV. Photonuclear events, where one of the colliding nuclei breaks up and the other remains intact, are selected based on breakup neutron emissions and by requiring no particle activity in a large rapidity interval in the direction of the photon-emitting nucleus. The D$^0$ mesons are reconstructed via the D$^0$$\to$ K$^-$$π^+$ decay channel, with the cross section measured as a function of D$^0$ meson transverse momentum and rapidity. The results are compared with next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations that employ recent parametrizations of the lead nuclear parton distribution functions, as well as with predictions based on the color glass condensate framework. This measurement is the first photonuclear collision study characterizing parton distribution functions of lead nuclei for parton fractional momenta $x$ (relative to the nucleon) ranging approximately from a few 10$^{-4}$ to 10$^{-2}$ for different hard energy scale $Q^2$ selections.

4 data tables

The mass distribution of D$^{0}$ decaying to K$^{-}$ and $\pi^{+}$ for $5 < p_{\mathrm{T}} < 8$ GeV and $0.0 < y < 1.0$ in 0nXn ultraperipheral PbPb collisions.

The d$^{2}\sigma$/dydp$_{\mathrm{T}}$ production cross section of D$^{0}$ for $2 < p_{\mathrm{T}} < 5$ GeV in ultraperipheral PbPb collisions.

The d$^{2}\sigma$/dydp$_{\mathrm{T}}$ production cross section of D$^{0}$ for $5 < p_{\mathrm{T}} < 8$ GeV in ultraperipheral PbPb collisions.

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Exploring small-angle emissions in charm quark jets in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 TeV

The CMS collaboration Chekhovsky, Vladimir ; Hayrapetyan, Aram ; Makarenko, Vladimir ; et al.
CMS-HIN-24-007, 2025.
Inspire Record 2950741 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.156758

A measurement of the angular structure of jets containing a prompt D$^0$ meson and of inclusive jets in proton-proton collisions at the LHC at a center-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV is presented. The data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 301 pb$^{-1}$ were collected by the CMS experiment in 2017. Two jet grooming algorithms, late-$k_\mathrm{T}$ and soft drop, are used to study the intrajet radiation pattern using iterative Cambridge$-$Aachen declustering. The splitting-angle distributions of jets with transverse momentum ($p_\mathrm{T}$) of around 100 GeV, obtained with these two algorithms, show that there is a shift of the distribution for jets containing a prompt D$^0$ meson with respect to inclusive jets. The shift observed in the late-$k_\mathrm{T}$ grooming approach is consistent with the dead-cone effect, whereas the shift for splittings selected with the soft-drop algorithm appears to be dominated by gluon splitting to charm quark-antiquark pairs. The measured distributions are corrected to the particle level and can be used to constrain model predictions for the substructure of high-$p_\mathrm{T}$ charm quark jets.

6 data tables

The unfolded late-$k_{T}$ angular distribution for prompt $D^{0}$ jets.

The unfolded late-$k_{T}$ angular distribution for inclusive jets.

The unfolded SD angular distribution for prompt $D^{0}$ jets.

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Evidence of medium response to hard probes using correlations of Z bosons with hadrons in heavy ion collisions

The CMS collaboration Chekhovsky, Vladimir ; Hayrapetyan, Aram ; Makarenko, Vladimir ; et al.
CMS-HIN-23-006, 2025.
Inspire Record 2945894 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.156186

The first measurement of pseudorapidity and azimuthal angle distributions relative to the momentum vector of a Z boson for low transverse momentum ($p_\mathrm{T}$) charged hadrons in lead-lead (PbPb) collisions is presented. By studying the hadrons produced in an event with a high-$p_\mathrm{T}$ Z boson (40 $\lt$$p_\mathrm{T}$$\lt$ 350 GeV), the analysis probes how the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) medium created in these collisions affects the parton recoiling opposite to the Z boson. Utilizing PbPb data at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_{_\mathrm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV from 2018 with an integrated luminosity of 1.67 nb$^{-1}$ and proton-proton (pp) data at the same energy from 2017 with 301 pb$^{-1}$, the distributions are examined in bins of charged-hadron $p_\mathrm{T}$. A significant modification of the distributions for charged hadrons in the range 1$\lt$$p_\mathrm{T}$$\lt$ 2 GeV in PbPb collisions is observed when compared to reference measurements from pp collisions. The data provide new information about the correlation between hard and soft particles in heavy ion collisions, which can be used to test predictions of various jet quenching models. The results are consistent with expectations of a hydrodynamic wake created when the QGP is depleted of energy by the parton propagating through it. Based on comparisons of PbPb data with pp references and predictions from theoretical models, this Letter presents the first evidence of medium-recoil and medium-hole effects caused by a hard probe.

30 data tables

The $\Delta\phi_{ch,Z}$ spectra for events with Z boson $p_{T}^Z > 40$ GeV and charged-hadrons with $1 <p_T < 2$ GeV in pp collisions.

The $\Delta\phi_{ch,Z}$ spectra for events with Z boson $p_{T}^Z > 40$ GeV and charged-hadrons with $2 <p_T < 4$ GeV in pp collisions.

The $\Delta\phi_{ch,Z}$ spectra for events with Z boson $p_{T}^Z > 40$ GeV and charged-hadrons with $4 <p_T < 10$ GeV in pp collisions.

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Search for jet quenching with dijets from high-multiplicity pPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 8.16 TeV

The CMS collaboration Chekhovsky, Vladimir ; Hayrapetyan, Aram ; Makarenko, Vladimir ; et al.
JHEP 07 (2025) 118, 2025.
Inspire Record 2911293 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.156764

The first measurement of the dijet transverse momentum balance $x_j$ in proton-lead (pPb) collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 8.16 TeV is presented. The $x_j$ observable, defined as the ratio of the subleading over leading jet transverse momentum in a dijet pair, is used to search for jet quenching effects. The data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 174.6 nb$^{-1}$, were collected with the CMS detector in 2016. The $x_j$ distributions and their average values are studied as functions of the charged-particle multiplicity of the events and for various dijet rapidity selections. The latter enables probing hard scattering of partons carrying distinct nucleon momentum fractions $x$ in the proton- and lead-going directions. The former, aided by the high-multiplicity triggers, allows probing for potential jet quenching effects in high-multiplicity events (with up to 400 charged particles), for which collective phenomena consistent with quark-gluon plasma (QGP) droplet formation were previously observed. The ratios of $x_j$ distributions for high- to low-multiplicity events are used to quantify the possible medium effects. These ratios are consistent with simulations of the hard-scattering process that do not include QGP production. These measurements set an upper limit on medium-induced energy loss of the subleading jet of 1.26% of its transverse momentum at the 90% confidence level in high multiplicity pPb events.

22 data tables

The unfolded dijet balance distribution, $(1/N_{dijet})(dN_{dijet}/dx_{j})$, as function of $x_{j}$ for the $10-60$, $60-120$, $120-185$, $185-250$ and $250-400$ multiplicity ranges with both jets at the midrapidity regions.

The unfolded dijet balance distribution, $(1/N_{dijet})(dN_{dijet}/dx_{j})$, as function of $x_{j}$ for the $10-60$, $60-120$, $120-185$, $185-250$ and $250-400$ multiplicity ranges with leading and subleading jets at midrapidity and forward regions, respectively.

The unfolded dijet balance distribution, $(1/N_{dijet})(dN_{dijet}/dx_{j})$, as function of $x_{j}$ for the $10-60$, $60-120$, $120-185$, $185-250$ and $250-400$ multiplicity ranges with leading and subleading jets at midrapidity and backward regions, respectively.

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Observation of coherent $\phi$(1020) meson photoproduction in ultraperipheral PbPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\text{NN}}$ = 5.36 TeV

The CMS collaboration Chekhovsky, Vladimir ; Hayrapetyan, Aram ; Makarenko, Vladimir ; et al.
CMS-HIN-24-009, 2025.
Inspire Record 2908607 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.156183

The first observation of coherent $\phi$(1020) meson photoproduction off heavy nuclei is presented using ultraperipheral lead-lead collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 5.36 TeV. The data were collected by the CMS experiment and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 1.68 $\mu$b$^{-1}$. The $\phi$(1020) meson signals are reconstructed via the K$^+$K$^-$ decay channel. The production cross section is presented as a function of the $\phi$(1020) meson rapidity in the range 0.3 $\lt$$\lvert y\rvert$$\lt$ 1.0, probing gluons that carry a fraction of the nucleon momentum ($x$) around $10^{-4}$. The observed cross section exhibits little dependence on rapidity and is significantly suppressed, by a factor of ${\sim}$5, compared to a baseline model that treats a nucleus as a collection of free nucleons. Theoretical models that incorporate either nuclear shadowing or gluon saturation predict suppression of the $\phi$(1020) meson cross section with only a small dependence on rapidity, but the magnitude of the predicted suppression varies greatly. Models considering only nuclear shadowing effects result in the best agreement with the experimental data. This study establishes a powerful new tool for exploring nuclear effects and nuclear gluonic structure in the small-$x$ regime at a unique energy scale bridging the perturbative and nonperturbative quantum chromodynamics domains.

1 data table

The differential coherent $\phi$ photoproduction cross section and the nuclear suppression factor as a function of rapidity.


Observation of the Onset of Constituent Quark Number Scaling in Heavy-Ion Collisions at RHIC

The STAR collaboration Aboona, B.E. ; Adam, J. ; Adamczyk, L. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.Lett. 135 (2025) 072301, 2025.
Inspire Record 2907591 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.159489

Partonic collectivity is one of the necessary signatures for the formation of quark-gluon plasma in high-energy nuclear collisions. Number of constituent quarks (NCQ) scaling has been observed for hadron elliptic flow $v_2$ in top energy nuclear collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and the LHC, and this has been theoretically suggested as strong evidence for partonic collectivity. In this Letter, a systematic analysis of $v_2$ of $π^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, $K^{0}_{S}$, $p$, and $Λ$ in Au+Au collisions at ${\sqrt{s_{_{\rm{NN}}}}}$ = 3.2, 3.5, 3.9, and 4.5 GeV, with the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, is presented. NCQ scaling is markedly violated at 3.2 GeV, consistent with a hadronic-interaction dominated equation of state. However, as the collision energy increases, a gradual evolution to NCQ scaling is observed. This beam-energy dependence of $v_2$ for all hadrons studied provides evidence for the onset of dominant partonic interactions by ${\sqrt{s_{_{\rm{NN}}}}}$ = 4.5 GeV.

72 data tables

$p_{T}$ dependence of $v_{2}$ for $\pi^{+}$ in Au+Au collisions at 3 GeV

$p_{T}$ dependence of $v_{2}$ for $\pi^{+}$ in Au+Au collisions at 3.2 GeV

$p_{T}$ dependence of $v_{2}$ for $\pi^{+}$ in Au+Au collisions at 3.5 GeV

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Precision Measurement of (Net-)proton Number Fluctuations in Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

The STAR collaboration Aboona, B.E. ; Adam, J. ; Adamczyk, L. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.Lett. 135 (2025) 142301, 2025.
Inspire Record 2906592 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.159490

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.

14 data tables

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).

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Version 2
Observation of nuclear modification of energy-energy correlators inside jets in heavy ion collisions

The CMS collaboration Chekhovsky, Vladimir ; Hayrapetyan, Aram ; Makarenko, Vladimir ; et al.
Phys.Lett.B 866 (2025) 139556, 2025.
Inspire Record 2904406 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.156187

Energy-energy correlators are constructed by averaging the number of charged particle pairs within jets, weighted by the product of their transverse momenta, as a function of the angular separation of the particles within a pair. They are sensitive to a multitude of perturbative and nonperturbative quantum chromodynamics phenomena in high-energy particle collisions. Using lead-lead data recorded with the CMS detector, energy-energy correlators inside high transverse momentum jets are measured in heavy ion collisions for the first time. The data are obtained at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 1.70 nb$^{-1}$. A similar analysis is done for proton-proton collisions at the same center-of-mass energy to establish a reference. The ratio of lead-lead to proton-proton energy-energy correlators reveals significant jet substructure modifications in the quark-gluon plasma. The results are compared to different models that incorporate either color coherence or medium response effects, where the two effects predict similar substructure modifications.

80 data tables

The energy-energy correlator distributions constructed with charged particles with $p_{\mathrm{T}} > 1$ GeV for energy weight $n=1$ and jet $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ selection $120 < p_{\mathrm{T,jet}} < 140$ GeV. The results are shown for different centrality bins in PbPb collisions and for pp collisions.

The energy-energy correlator distributions constructed with charged particles with $p_{\mathrm{T}} > 1$ GeV for energy weight $n=1$ and jet $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ selection $120 < p_{\mathrm{T,jet}} < 140$ GeV. The results are shown for different centrality bins in PbPb collisions and for pp collisions.

The energy-energy correlator distributions constructed with charged particles with $p_{\mathrm{T}} > 1$ GeV for energy weight $n=1$ and jet $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ selection $140 < p_{\mathrm{T,jet}} < 160$ GeV. The results are shown for different centrality bins in PbPb collisions and for pp collisions.

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Small-$x$ evolution of gluon fields from incoherent J/$\psi$ photoproduction in ultraperipheral PbPb collisions

The CMS collaboration Chekhovsky, Vladimir ; Hayrapetyan, Aram ; Makarenko, Vladimir ; et al.
Phys.Rev.Lett. 135 (2025) 112301, 2025.
Inspire Record 2899343 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.156185

Incoherent J/$ψ$ photoproduction in heavy ion ultraperipheral collisions (UPCs) provides a sensitive probe of localized, fluctuating gluonic structures within heavy nuclei. This study reports the first measurement of the photon-nucleon center-of-mass energy ($W_{γ\mathrm{N}}$) dependence of this process in PbPb UPCs at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV, using 1.52 nb$^{-1}$ of data recorded by the CMS experiment. The measurement covers a wide $W_{γ\mathrm{N}}$ range of $\approx$ 40-400 GeV, probing gluons carrying a fraction $x$ of nucleon momentum down to an unexplored region of 6.5 $\times$ 10$^{-5}$. Compared to baseline predictions neglecting nuclear effects, the measured cross sections exhibit significantly greater suppression at lower $x$. Additionally, the ratio of incoherent to coherent photoproduction is found to be constant across the probed $W_{γ\mathrm{N}}$ and $x$ range, disfavoring the establishment of the black disk limit. This study provides critical insights into the $x$-dependent evolution of fluctuating gluonic structures within nuclei and calls for further advancements in theoretical models incorporating nuclear shadowing and gluon saturation.

8 data tables

The differential incoherent $\mathrm{J}/\psi$ photoproduction cross section as a function of $|y|$, in different neutron multiplicity classes.

The differential incoherent $\mathrm{J}/\psi$ photoproduction cross section as a function of $y$, in different neutron multiplicity classes.

The incoherent $\mathrm{J}/\psi$ photoproduction cross section as a function of photon-nuclear center-of-mass energy per nucleon $W_{\gamma \mathrm{N}}^{\mathrm{Pb}}$ or Bjorken $x$, measured in PbPb ultra-peripheral collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV. The $W_{\gamma \mathrm{N}}^{\mathrm{Pb}}$ values used correspond to the center of each rapidity range. The theoretical uncertainties is due to the uncertainties in the photon flux.

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Observation of the charged-particle multiplicity dependence of $\sigma_{\psi(2S)}/\sigma_{\text{J}/\psi}$ in pPb collisions at 8.16 TeV

The CMS collaboration Chekhovsky, Vladimir ; Hayrapetyan, Aram ; Makarenko, Vladimir ; et al.
Phys.Rev.Lett. 135 (2025) 092301, 2025.
Inspire Record 2896594 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.154161

Bound states of charm and anticharm quarks, known as charmonia, have a rich spectroscopic structure that can be used to probe the dynamics of hadron production in high-energy hadron collisions. Here, the cross section ratio of excited ($ψ$(2S)) and ground state (J/$ψ$) vector mesons is measured as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity in proton-lead (pPb) collisions at a center-of-mass (CM) energy per nucleon pair of 8.16 TeV. The data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 175 nb$^{-1}$ were collected using the CMS detector. The ratio is measured separately for prompt and nonprompt charmonia in the transverse momentum range 6.5 $\lt$$p_\text{T}$$\lt$ 30 GeV and in four rapidity ranges spanning $-$2.865 $\lt$$y_\text{CM}$$\lt$ 1.935. For the first time, a statistically significant multiplicity dependence of the prompt cross section ratio is observed in proton-nucleus collisions. There is no clear rapidity dependence in the ratio. The prompt measurements are compared with a theoretical model which includes interactions with nearby particles during the evolution of the system. These results provide additional constraints on hadronization models of heavy quarks in nuclear collisions.

7 data tables

Normalized $\sigma_{\psi(2S)}/\sigma_{J/\psi}$ in $6.5<p_T<30.0\,GeV$ and $ -2.865 < y_{CM} < -2$ as functions of normalized $\text{N}^{{\text{corr.}}}_{\text{track}}$

Normalized $\sigma_{\psi(2S)}/\sigma_{J/\psi}$ in $6.5<p_T<30.0\,GeV$ and $ -2 < y_{CM} < -1$ as functions of normalized $\text{N}^{{\text{corr.}}}_{\text{track}}$

Normalized $\sigma_{\psi(2S)}/\sigma_{J/\psi}$ in $6.5<p_T<30.0\,GeV$ and $ -1 < y_{CM} < 1$ as functions of normalized $\text{N}^{{\text{corr.}}}_{\text{track}}$

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