We measure for the first time the differential photoproduction cross section $d\sigma/dt$ of the $a_2(1320)$ meson at an average photon beam energy of 8.5~GeV, using data with an integrated luminosity of 104~pb$^{-1}$ collected by the GlueX experiment. We fully reconstruct the $\gamma p \to \eta\pi^0 p$ reaction and perform a partial-wave analysis in the $a_2(1320)$ mass region with amplitudes that incorporate the linear polarization of the beam. This allows us to separate for the first time the contributions of natural- and unnatural-parity exchanges. These measurements provide novel information about the photoproduction mechanism, which is critical for the search for spin-exotic states.
$a_2(1320)$ parity asymmetry, $P_{\sigma}$, in bins of four-momentum transfer. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic.
$a_2(1320)$ differential cross section split into different reflectivity components, $\frac{d\sigma^+}{dt}$ and $\frac{d\sigma^-}{dt}$, in bins of four-momentum transfer. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic.
$a_2(1320)$ differential cross section in the m=-1 projection split into different reflectivity components, $\frac{d\sigma^+_{-1}}{dt}$ and $\frac{d\sigma^-_{-1}}{dt}$, in bins of four-momentum transfer. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic.
In ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions at the LHC, each nucleus acts a sources of high-energy real photons that can scatter off the opposing nucleus in ultra-peripheral photonuclear ($\gamma+A$) collisions. Hard scattering processes initiated by the photons in such collisions provide a novel method for probing nuclear parton distributions in a kinematic region not easily accessible to other measurements. ATLAS has measured production of dijet and multi-jet final states in ultra-peripheral Pb+Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\text{NN}}} = 5.02$ TeV using a data set recorded in 2018 with an integrated luminosity of 1.72 $\text{nb}^{-1}$. Photonuclear final states are selected by requiring a rapidity gap in the photon direction; this selects events where one of the outgoing nuclei remains intact. Jets are reconstructed using the anti-$k_\text{t}$ algorithm with radius parameter, $R = 0.4$. Triple-differential cross-sections, unfolded for detector response, are measured and presented using two sets of kinematic variables. The first set consists of the total transverse momentum ($H_\text{T}$),rapidity, and mass of the jet system. The second set uses $H_\text{T}$ and particle-level nuclear and photon parton momentum fractions, $x_\text{A}$ and $z_{\gamma}$, respectively. The results are compared with leading-order (LO) perturbative QCD calculations of photonuclear jet production cross-sections, where all LO predictions using existing fits fall below the data in the shadowing region. More detailed theoretical comparisons will allow these results to strongly constrain nuclear parton distributions, and these data provide results from the LHC directly comparable to early physics results at the planned Electron-Ion Collider.
The fraction of photonuclear jet events passing the fiducial requirements in which the photon-emitting nucleus does not break up as a function of \zg. The systematic uncertainties are not symmetrized, and correlations in uncertainties are neglected for both the total systematic uncertainty and statistical uncertainty.
Fully unfolded triple-differential cross-sections as a function of $H_\text{T}$, $y_\text{jets}$, and $m_\text{jets}$. Systematic uncertainties are decomposed into symmetrized nuisance parameters, where parameters labelled "Corr" are fully correlated bin-to-bin, while parameters labelled "Uncorr" should be treated as un-correlated bin-to-bin. These cross-sections are not corrected for the effects of additional nuclear break-up. Values for the total fiducial cross-section in each bin are reported with full statistical and systematic uncertainties. Fractions of the total bin volume occupied by the fiducial region, fractions of the total cross-section in that bin satisfying fiducial requirements, and mean bin values for each axis variable are derived from Pythia 8 Monte Carlo and reported as well. For more details on these quantities, see Appendix B.
Fully unfolded triple-differential cross-sections as a function of $H_\text{T}$, $x_\text{A}$, and $z_{\gamma}$. Systematic uncertainties are decomposed into symmetrized nuisance parameters, where parameters labelled "Corr" are fully correlated bin-to-bin, while parameters labelled "Uncorr" should be treated as un-correlated bin-to-bin. These cross-sections are not corrected for the effects of additional nuclear break-up. Values for the total fiducial cross-section in each bin are reported with full statistical and systematic uncertainties. Fractions of the total bin volume occupied by the fiducial region, fractions of the total cross-section in that bin satisfying fiducial requirements, and mean bin values for each axis variable are derived from Pythia 8 Monte Carlo and reported as well. For more details on these quantities, see Appendix B.
We report the differential yields at mid-rapidity of the Breit-Wheeler process ($\gamma\gamma\rightarrow e^{+}e^{-}$) in peripheral Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm{NN}}}} = $ 54.4 GeV and 200 GeV with the STAR experiment at RHIC, as a function of energy $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm{NN}}}}$, $e^{+}e^{-}$ transverse momentum $p_{\rm T}$, $p_{\rm T}^{2}$, invariant mass $M_{ee}$ and azimuthal angle. In the invariant mass range of 0.4 $<$$M_{ee}$$<$ 2.6 GeV/$c^{2}$ at low transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$$ < $0.15 GeV/$c$), the yields increase while the pair $\sqrt{\langle p_{\rm T}^{2} \rangle}$ decreases with increasing $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm{NN}}}}$, a feature is correctly predicted by the QED calculation. The energy dependencies of the measured quantities are sensitive to the nuclear form factor, infrared divergence and photon polarization. The data are compiled and used to extract the charge radius of the Au nucleus.
'54.4 GeV, Centrality: 40-60%'
'54.4 GeV, Centrality: 60-80%'
'54.4 GeV, Centrality: 80-100%'
We report multi-differential measurements of strange hadron production ranging from mid- to target-rapidity in Au+Au collisions at a center-of-momentum energy per nucleon pair of $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=3$ GeV with the STAR experiment at RHIC. $K^0_S$ meson and $\Lambda$ hyperon yields are measured via their weak decay channels. Collision centrality and rapidity dependences of the transverse momentum spectra and particle ratios are presented. Particle mass and centrality dependence of the average transverse momenta of $\Lambda$ and $K^0_S$ are compared with other strange particles, providing evidence of the development of hadronic rescattering in such collisions. The 4$\pi$ yields of each of these strange hadrons show a consistent centrality dependence. Discussions on radial flow, the strange hadron production mechanism, and properties of the medium created in such collisions are presented together with results from hadronic transport and thermal model calculations.
dN/dy of lambda for different centrality bins.
dN/dy of Ks0 for different centrality bins.
Rapidity dependence of Lambda/p for different centrality bins.
The spin-exotic hybrid meson $\pi_{1}(1600)$ is predicted to have a large decay rate to the $\omega\pi\pi$ final state. Using 76.6~pb$^{-1}$ of data collected with the GlueX detector, we measure the cross sections for the reactions $\gamma p \to \omega \pi^+ \pi^- p$, $\gamma p \to \omega \pi^0 \pi^0 p$, and $\gamma p\to\omega\pi^-\pi^0\Delta^{++}$ in the range $E_\gamma =$ 8-10 GeV. Using isospin conservation, we set the first upper limits on the photoproduction cross sections of the $\pi^{0}_{1}(1600)$ and $\pi^{-}_{1}(1600)$. We combine these limits with lattice calculations of decay widths and find that photoproduction of $\eta'\pi$ is the most sensitive two-body system to search for the $\pi_1(1600)$.
Measured $\sigma(\gamma p\to\omega\pi^+\pi^-p)$ values for $8<E_\gamma<10$ GeV and $0.1<-t<0.5$ (GeV$^2$). There are normalization uncertainties that are 100% correlated between the three cross section measurements. These include 5% for the luminosity, 13.5% for the tracking efficiency, and 8.1% for the photon efficiency.
Measured $\sigma(\gamma p\to\omega\pi^0\pi^0p)$ values for $8<E_\gamma<10$ GeV and $0.1<-t<0.5$ (GeV$^2$). There are normalization uncertainties that are 100% correlated between the three cross section measurements. These include 5% for the luminosity, 9.1% for the tracking efficiency, and 24.3% for the photon efficiency.
Measured $\sigma(\gamma p\to\omega\pi^-\pi^0\Delta^{++})$ values for $8<E_\gamma<10$ GeV and $0.1<-t<0.5$ (GeV$^2$). There are normalization uncertainties that are 100% correlated between the three cross section measurements. These include 5% for the luminosity, 16% for the tracking efficiency, and 16.3% for the photon efficiency.
In heavy-ion collision experiments, the global collectivity of final-state particles can be quantified by anisotropic flow coefficients <math><mo>(</mo><msub><mi>v</mi><mi>n</mi></msub><mo>)</mo></math>. The first-order flow coefficient, also referred to as the directed flow <math><mo>(</mo><msub><mi>v</mi><mn>1</mn></msub><mo>)</mo></math>, describes the collective sideward motion of produced particles and nuclear fragments in heavy-ion collisions. It carries information on the very early stage of the collision, especially at large pseudorapidity <math><mo>(</mo><mi>η</mi><mo>)</mo></math>, where it is believed to be generated during the nuclear passage time. Directed flow therefore probes the onset of bulk collective dynamics during thermalization, providing valuable experimental guidance to models of the pre-equilibrium stage. In 2018, the Event Plane Detector (EPD) was installed in STAR and used for the Beam Energy Scan phase-II (BES-II) data taking. The combination of EPD <math><mrow><mo>(</mo><mn>2.1</mn><mo><</mo><mo>|</mo><mi>η</mi><mo>|</mo><mo><</mo><mn>5.1</mn><mo>)</mo></mrow></math> and high-statistics BES-II data enables us to extend the <math><msub><mi>v</mi><mn>1</mn></msub></math> measurement to the forward and backward <math><mi>η</mi></math> regions. In this paper, we present the measurement of <math><msub><mi>v</mi><mn>1</mn></msub></math> over a wide <math><mi>η</mi></math> range in <math><mrow><mi>Au</mi><mo>+</mo><mi>Au</mi></mrow></math> collisions at <math><mrow><msqrt><msub><mi>s</mi><mrow><mi>N</mi><mi>N</mi></mrow></msub></msqrt><mo>=</mo></mrow></math> 19.6 and 27 GeV using the STAR EPD. The results of the analysis at <math><mrow><msqrt><msub><mi>s</mi><mrow><mi>N</mi><mi>N</mi></mrow></msub></msqrt><mo>=</mo></mrow></math> 19.6 GeV exhibit excellent consistency with the previous PHOBOS measurement, while elevating the precision of the overall measurement. The increased precision of the measurement also revealed finer structures in heavy-ion collisions, including a potential observation of the first-order event-plane decorrelation. Multiple physics models were compared to the experimental results. Only a transport model and a three-fluid hybrid model can reproduce a sizable <math><msub><mi>v</mi><mn>1</mn></msub></math> at large <math><mi>η</mi></math> as was observed experimentally. The model comparison also indicates <math><msub><mi>v</mi><mn>1</mn></msub></math> at large <math><mi>η</mi></math> might be sensitive to the QGP phase transition.
Directed flow vs pseudorapidity.
Directed flow vs pseudorapidity.
Directed flow vs pseudorapidity.
We measure the spin-density matrix elements (SDMEs) of the $\Delta^{++}(1232)$ in the photoproduction reaction $\gamma p \to \pi^-\Delta^{++}(1232)$ with the GlueX experiment in Hall D at Jefferson Lab. The measurement uses a linearly--polarized photon beam with energies from $8.2$ to $8.8$~GeV and the statistical precision of the SDMEs exceeds the previous measurement by three orders of magnitude for the momentum transfer squared region below $1.4$ GeV$^2$. The data are sensitive to the previously undetermined relative sign between couplings in existing Regge-exchange models. Linear combinations of the extracted SDMEs allow for a decomposition into natural and unnatural--exchange amplitudes. We find that the unnatural exchange plays an important role in the low momentum transfer region.
Spin-density matrix elements for the photoproduction of $\Delta(1232)^{++}$ in the Gottfried-Jackson system. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic. The systematic uncertainties for the polarized SDMEs $\rho^1_{ij}$ and $\rho^2_{ij}$ contain an overall relative normalization uncertainty of 2.1% which is fully correlated for all values of $-t$.
Spin-density matrix elements for the photoproduction of $\Delta(1232)^{++}$ in the Gottfried-Jackson system. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic.
With the STAR experiment at the BNL Relativisic Heavy Ion Collider, we characterize $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 200 GeV p+Au collisions by event activity (EA) measured within the pseudorapidity range $eta$$in$ [-5, -3.4] in the Au-going direction and report correlations between this EA and hard- and soft- scale particle production at midrapidity ($\eta$$\in$ [-1, 1]). At the soft scale, charged particle production in low-EA p+Au collisions is comparable to that in p+p collisions and increases monotonically with increasing EA. At the hard scale, we report measurements of high transverse momentum (pT) jets in events of different EAs. In contrast with the soft particle production, high-pT particle production and EA are found to be inversely related. To investigate whether this is a signal of jet quenching in high-EA events, we also report ratios of pT imbalance and azimuthal separation of dijets in high- and low-EA events. Within our measurement precision, no significant differences are observed, disfavoring the presence of jet quenching in the highest 30% EA p+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
Distributions of Event Activity (as measured by the BBC) from MB and HT events with the latter satisfying an offline trigger of $E_\mathrm{T}^\mathrm{trig}>4 \mathrm{GeV}$.
Density of charged particles with $p_\mathrm{T}>0.2$ GeV/$c$ and $|\eta|\le0.9$ in ten ranges of EA for MB events and HT events selected with several offline trigger values.
Charged particle density as a function of EA, UE $\eta$, and $p_\mathrm{T,jet}^\mathrm{lead}$ for HT ($E_\mathrm{T}^\mathrm{trig}>4$ GeV) events with $p_\mathrm{T,jet}^\mathrm{raw,lead}>4~\mathrm{GeV}/c$.
Atomic nuclei are self-organized, many-body quantum systems bound by strong nuclear forces within femtometer-scale space. These complex systems manifest a variety of shapes, traditionally explored using non-invasive spectroscopic techniques at low energies. However, at these energies, their instantaneous shapes are obscured by long-timescale quantum fluctuations, making direct observation challenging. Here we introduce the ``collective flow assisted nuclear shape imaging'' method, which images the nuclear global shape by colliding them at ultrarelativistic speeds and analyzing the collective response of outgoing debris. This technique captures a collision-specific snapshot of the spatial matter distribution within the nuclei, which, through the hydrodynamic expansion, imprints patterns on the particle momentum distribution observed in detectors. We benchmark this method in collisions of ground state Uranium-238 nuclei, known for their elongated, axial-symmetric shape. Our findings show a large deformation with a slight deviation from axial symmetry in the nuclear ground state, aligning broadly with previous low-energy experiments. This approach offers a new method for imaging nuclear shapes, enhances our understanding of the initial conditions in high-energy collisions and addresses the important issue of nuclear structure evolution across energy scales.
Data from Figure 2, panel a, Au+Au, 0-0.5% Centrality, 0.2<p_{T}<3 GeV/c, systematics include non-flow difference in the two systems, but correlated non-flow systematics with the value of $\delta \left\langle v_{2}^{2}\right\rangle$ =+-3.2e-5 included
Data from Figure 2, panel a, U+U, 0-0.5% Centrality, 0.2<p_{T}<3 GeV/c, systematics include non-flow difference in the two systems, but correlated non-flow systematics with the value of $\delta \left\langle v_{2}^{2}\right\rangle$ =+-3.2e-5 included
Data from Figure 2, panel b, Au+Au, 0-0.5% Centrality, 0.2<p_{T}<3 GeV/c
A new data set for the helicity-dependent differential cross section of the single-meson photoproduction reaction $\gamma p \to p \pi^{0}$ was obtained for the photon energy interval 150-400 MeV. The experiment was performed at the A2 tagged photon facility of the Mainz Microtron MAMI using a circularly polarized photon beam and a longitudinally polarized proton target. The reaction products were detected with the large acceptance Crystal Ball/TAPS calorimeter covering 97% of the full solid angle. These new results, obtained with a fine energy and polar angle binning, greatly increase both the existing quantity and quality of the data available for this observable. A moment analysis, based on a finite expansion in Legendre polynomials, was applied to these data by using a bootstrap-based fitting method to correctly account for their systematic uncertainties. From the resulting decomposition of the differential cross sections, the $E2/M1$ ratio for the $N\to \Delta(1232)$ transition was determined to be $[-2.38 \pm 0.16{\hbox{ (stat.+sys.)}} \pm 0.10 {\hbox{ (model)}}] \%$. Combining this value with previous results also allowed us to evaluate the most precise available estimate of the $E2/M1$ ratio to be used for all further reference and model comparisons.
Total heliicity-dependent cross section $\Delta \sigma$ as a function of photon beam energy.
Exitation as function as function of photon beam energyat cms $\Theta_\pi^0= 5 deg$
Exitation as function as function of photon beam energy at cms $\Theta_\pi^0= 15 deg$
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