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$$\pi^0$ production found in small-system collisions with low event activity is a result of a bias in interpreting event activity within the Glauber framework. In contrast, for the top 5% of events with the highest event activity, $R_{d\rm Au,EXP}^{\gamma^{\rm dir}}$ is suppressed by 20% relative to the MB value with a significance of $4.5\sigma$, which may be due to final-state effects.
The $p_{T}$ distribution at high $p_{T}$ of neutral pions (panel (a)) for different d+Au event activity classes compared to those from p+p collisions (Phys. Rev. C 105, 064902).
The $p_{T}$ distribution at high $p_{T}$ of direct photons (panel (b)) for different d+Au event activity classes compared to those from p+p collisions (Phys. Rev. D 86, 072008).
Panel (c) shows the ratio $\gamma^{dir}/\pi^{0}$. For better visibility the points are slightly shifted in $p_{T}$ .
Recently, the PHENIX Collaboration has published second- and third-harmonic Fourier coefficients $v_2$ and $v_3$ for midrapidity ($|\eta|<0.35$) charged hadrons in 0%--5% central $p$$+$Au, $d$ $+$Au, and $^3$He$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV utilizing three sets of two-particle correlations for two detector combinations with different pseudorapidity acceptance [Phys. Rev. C {\bf 105}, 024901 (2022)]. This paper extends these measurements of $v_2$ to all centralities in $p$ $+$Au, $d$ $+$Au, and $^3$He$+$Au collisions, as well as $p$$+$$p$ collisions, as a function of transverse momentum ($p_T$) and event multiplicity. The kinematic dependence of $v_2$ is quantified as the ratio $R$ of $v_2$ between the two detector combinations as a function of event multiplicity for $0.5$ $<$ $p_T$ $<$ $1$ and $2$ $<$ $p_T$ $<$ $2.5$ GeV/$c$. A multiphase-transport (AMPT) model can reproduce the observed $v_2$ in most-central to midcentral $d$$+$Au and $^3$He$+$Au collisions. However, the AMPT model systematically overestimates the measurements in $p$ $+$ $p$, $p$ $+$Au, and peripheral $d$$+$Au and $^3$He$+$Au collisions, indicating a higher nonflow contribution in AMPT than in the experimental data. The AMPT model fails to describe the observed $R$ for $0.5$ $<$ $p_T$$<$ $1$ GeV/$c$, but there is qualitative agreement with the measurements for $2$ $<$ $p_T$ $<$ $2.5$ GeV/$c$.
Azimuthal anisotropy $v_2\{BB\}$ as a function of transverse momentum $p_T$ in $p$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} =$ 200 GeV.
Azimuthal anisotropy $v_2\{BF\}$ as a function of transverse momentum $p_T$ in $p$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} =$ 200 GeV.
Azimuthal anisotropy $v_2\{BB\}$ as a function of transverse momentum $p_T$ in $d$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} =$ 200 GeV.
There is strong evidence for the formation of small droplets of quark-gluon plasma in $p/d/^{3}$He+Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) and in $p$+$p$/Pb collisions at the Large Hadron Collider. In particular, the analysis of data at RHIC for different geometries obtained by varying the projectile size and shape has proven insightful. In the present analysis, we find excellent agreement with the previously published PHENIX at RHIC results on elliptical and triangular flow with an independent analysis via the two-particle correlation method, which has quite different systematic uncertainties and an independent code base. In addition, the results are extended to other detector combinations with different kinematic (pseudorapidity) coverage. These results provide additional constraints on contributions from nonflow and longitudinal decorrelations.
$v_2$ vs $p_T$, p+Au at 200 GeV, 0-5% central, BBCS-FVTXS-CNT detector combination
$v_2$ vs $p_T$, d+Au at 200 GeV, 0-5% central, BBCS-FVTXS-CNT detector combination
$v_2$ vs $p_T$, 3He+Au at 200 GeV, 0-5% central, BBCS-FVTXS-CNT detector combination
Asymmetric nuclear collisions of $p$$+$Al, $p$$+$Au, $d$$+$Au, and $^{3}$He$+$Au at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV provide an excellent laboratory for understanding particle production, as well as exploring interactions among these particles after their initial creation in the collision. We present measurements of charged hadron production $dN_{\rm ch}/d\eta$ in all such collision systems over a broad pseudorapidity range and as a function of collision multiplicity. A simple wounded quark model is remarkably successful at describing the full data set. We also measure the elliptic flow $v_{2}$ over a similarly broad pseudorapidity range. These measurements provide key constraints on models of particle emission and their translation into flow.
Charged hadron $dN_{ch}/d\eta$ as a function of pseudorapidity in high-multiplicity 0%-5% central $^3$He+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
Charged hadron $dN_{ch}/d\eta$ as a function of pseudorapidity in high-multiplicity 0%-5% central $d$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
Charged hadron $dN_{ch}/d\eta$ as a function of pseudorapidity in high-multiplicity 0%-5% central $p$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
The experimental study of the collisions of heavy nuclei at relativistic energies has established the properties of the quark-gluon plasma (QGP), a state of hot, dense nuclear matter in which quarks and gluons are not bound into hadrons. In this state, matter behaves as a nearly inviscid fluid that efficiently translates initial spatial anisotropies into correlated momentum anisotropies among the produced particles, producing a common velocity field pattern known as collective flow. In recent years, comparable momentum anisotropies have been measured in small-system proton-proton ($p$$+$$p$) and proton-nucleus ($p$$+$$A$) collisions, despite expectations that the volume and lifetime of the medium produced would be too small to form a QGP. Here, we report on the observation of elliptic and triangular flow patterns of charged particles produced in proton-gold ($p$$+$Au), deuteron-gold ($d$$+$Au), and helium-gold ($^3$He$+$Au) collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$~=~200 GeV. The unique combination of three distinct initial geometries and two flow patterns provides unprecedented model discrimination. Hydrodynamical models, which include the formation of a short-lived QGP droplet, provide a simultaneous description of these measurements.
$v_2$for 0-5% central p+Au collisions
$v_2$for 0-5% central d+Au collisions
$v_2$for 0-5% central $^3$He+Au collisions
Recently, multiparticle-correlation measurements of relativistic $p/d/^3$He$+$Au, $p$$+$Pb, and even $p$$+$$p$ collisions have shown surprising collective signatures. Here we present beam-energy-scan measurements of 2-, 4-, and 6-particle angular correlations in $d$$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$=200, 62.4, 39, and 19.6 GeV. We also present measurements of 2- and 4-particle angular correlations in $p$$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$=200 GeV. We find the 4-particle cumulant to be real-valued for $d$$+$Au collisions at all four energies. We also find that the 4-particle cumulant in $p$$+$Au has the opposite sign as that in $d$$+$Au, indicating that the correlations are geometrical and therefore collective in origin. Further we find that the 6-particle cumulant agrees with the 4-particle cumulant in $d$$+$Au collisions at 200 GeV, which indicates that nonflow effects are subdominant and provides strong evidence of collectivity.
Components $\langle\langle$4$\rangle\rangle$ and 2$\langle\langle$2$\rangle\rangle^{2}$ and cumulant $c_2${4} = $\langle\langle$4$\rangle\rangle$ - 2$\langle\langle$2$\rangle\rangle^{2}$ as a function of $N^{FVTX}_{tracks}$. (a) and (b) show the components and cumulant, respectively, in $p$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. (c) and (d) show the components and cumulant, respectively, in $d$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. (b) and (d) also show the cumulant as measured in AMPT for $p$+Au and $d$+Au, respectively, indicated by the green line. The shaded green band indicates the statistical uncertainty on the AMPT values.
Components $\langle\langle$4$\rangle\rangle$ and 2$\langle\langle$2$\rangle\rangle^{2}$ and cumulant $c_2${4} = $\langle\langle$4$\rangle\rangle$ - 2$\langle\langle$2$\rangle\rangle^{2}$ as a function of $N^{FVTX}_{tracks}$. (a) and (b) show the components and cumulant, respectively, in $p$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. (c) and (d) show the components and cumulant, respectively, in $d$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. (b) and (d) also show the cumulant as measured in AMPT for $p$+Au and $d$+Au, respectively, indicated by the green line. The shaded green band indicates the statistical uncertainty on the AMPT values.
$v_2${2}, $v_2${2, |$\Delta\eta$| > 2}, and $v_2${4} as a function of $N^{FVTX}_{tracks}$ in $d$+Au collisions with $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$= (a) 200 GeV, (b) 62.4 GeV, (c) 39 GeV, and (d) 19.6 GeV; also shown in (a) is $v_2${6} for $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$= 200 GeV. The arrowheads on the statistical uncertainties indicate cases where the standard 1$\sigma$ uncertainty on the $c_2${4} crosses zero. For 19.6 GeV, the combined confidence interval for $v_2${4} to be real is 79%.
During 2015 the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) provided collisions of transversely polarized protons with Au and Al nuclei for the first time, enabling the exploration of transverse-single-spin asymmetries with heavy nuclei. Large single-spin asymmetries in very forward neutron production have been previously observed in transversely polarized $p$$+$$p$ collisions at RHIC, and the existing theoretical framework that was successful in describing the single-spin asymmetry in $p$$+$$p$ collisions predicts only a moderate atomic-mass-number ($A$) dependence. In contrast, the asymmetries observed at RHIC in $p$$+$$A$ collisions showed a surprisingly strong $A$ dependence in inclusive forward neutron production. The observed asymmetry in $p$$+$Al collisions is much smaller, while the asymmetry in $p$$+$Au collisions is a factor of three larger in absolute value and of opposite sign. The interplay of different neutron production mechanisms is discussed as a possible explanation of the observed $A$ dependence.
Forward neutron $A_N$ in $p$+$A$ collisions for $A$ = 1 ($p$), 27 (Al), and 197 (Au), for ZDC inclusive, ZDC $\otimes$ BBC-tag, and ZDC $\otimes$ BBC-veto triggered samples. The 3% scale uncertainty is from the polarization normalization uncertaintiy.
The cross section and transverse single-spin asymmetries of $\mu^{-}$ and $\mu^{+}$ from open heavy-flavor decays in polarized $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV were measured by the PHENIX experiment during 2012 at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Because heavy-flavor production is dominated by gluon-gluon interactions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV, these measurements offer a unique opportunity to obtain information on the trigluon correlation functions. The measurements are performed at forward and backward rapidity ($1.4<|y|<2.0$) over the transverse momentum range of $1.25
$A_N$ of negatively-charged muons from open heavy-flavor decays as a function of $p_T$ in the backward ($x_F$ < 0) and forward ($x_F$ > 0) regions.
$A_N$ of positively-charged muons from open heavy-flavor decays as a function of $p_T$ in the backward ($x_F$ < 0) and forward ($x_F$ > 0) regions.
$A_N$ of negatively-charged and positively-charged muons from open heavy-flavor decays as a function of $x_F$, where $x_F$ > 0 is along the direction of the polarized proton.
The fraction of $J/\psi$ mesons which come from B-meson decay, $\textrm{F}_{B{\rightarrow}J/\psi}$, is measured for J/$\psi$ rapidity \mbox{$1.2<|y|<2.2$} and $p_T>0$ in $p$+$p$ and Cu+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$=200 GeV with the PHENIX detector. The extracted fraction is $\textrm{F}_{B{\rightarrow}J/\psi}$ = 0.025 $\pm$ 0.006(stat) $\pm$ 0.010(syst) for $p$+$p$ collisions. For Cu+Au collisions, $\textrm{F}_{B{\rightarrow}J/\psi}$ is 0.094 $\pm$ 0.028(stat) $\pm$ 0.037(syst) in the Au-going direction ($-2.2
Differential cross section for $p$+$p$ $\rightarrow$ $b\bar{b}$ at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV.
Fraction F$_{B \rightarrow J/\psi}$ of $B$-meson decays in the inclusive $J/\psi$ sample in $p$+$p$ and Cu+Au collisions at $sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV versus rapidity along with a theoretical estimation based on fixed-order plus next-to-leading logs (FONLL) for the $B \rightarrow J/\psi$ cross section and Color-Evaporation-Model (CEM) for the prompt $J/\psi$.
Fraction F$_{B \rightarrow J/\psi}$ of $B$-meson decays in the inclusive $J/\psi$ sample in $p$+$p$ and Cu+Au collisions at $sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV versus rapidity along with a theoretical estimation based on fixed-order plus next-to-leading logs (FONLL) for the $B \rightarrow J/\psi$ cross section and Color-Evaporation-Model (CEM) for the prompt $J/\psi$.
We report a measurement of $e^+e^-$ pairs from semileptonic heavy-flavor decays in $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$~GeV. The $e^+e^-$ pair yield from $b\bar{b}$ and $c\bar{c}$ is separated by exploiting a double differential fit done simultaneously in dielectron invariant mass and $p_T$. We used three different event generators, {\sc pythia}, {\sc mc@nlo}, and {\sc powheg}, to simulate the $e^+e^-$ spectra from $c\bar{c}$ and $b\bar{b}$ production. The data can be well described by all three generators within the detector acceptance. However, when using the generators to extrapolate to $4\pi$, significant differences are observed for the total cross section. These difference are less pronounced for $b\bar{b}$ than for $c\bar{c}$. The same model dependence was observed in already published $d$+$A$ data. The $p$+$p$ data are also directly compared with $d$+$A$ data in mass and $p_T$, and within the statistical accuracy no nuclear modification is seen.
Step by step extrapolation from the number of $e^+e^-$ pairs for $m_{e^+e^-}$ > 1.16 GeV/$c^2$ from $c\bar{c}$ in the PHENIX acceptance to the number of $c\bar{c}$ pairs in 4$\pi$ for PYTHIA, MC@NLO, and POWHEG. Numbers are in units of pairs per event using the $c\bar{c}$ cross sections determined in this paper.
Step by step extrapolation from the number of $e^+e^-$ pairs for $m_{e^+e^-}$ > 1.16 GeV/$c^2$ from $b\bar{b}$ in the PHENIX acceptance to the number of $b\bar{b}$ pairs in 4$\pi$ for PYTHIA, MC@NLO, and POWHEG. Numbers are in units of pairs per event using the $b\bar{b}$ cross sections determined in this paper.
Summary of $c\bar{c}$ and $b\bar{b}$ cross sections measured in $p$+$p$ collisions using three different generators, PYTHIA, MC@NLO, and POWHEG.
Forum