Elliptic flow from nuclear collisions is a hadronic observable sensitive to the early stages of system evolution. We report first results on elliptic flow of charged particles at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=130 GeV using the STAR TPC at RHIC. The elliptic flow signal, v_2, averaged over transverse momentum, reaches values of about 6% for relatively peripheral collisions and decreases for the more central collisions. This can be interpreted as the observation of a higher degree of thermalization than at lower collision energies. Pseudorapidity and transverse momentum dependence of elliptic flow are also presented.
Elliptic flow as a function of centrality defined as nch/nmax. Also given is epsilon, the initial space eccentricity of the overlap region, as well as the cumulative fraction of events starting with the most central. From the results of the study of non-flow contributions by different subevent selections and the maximum magnitudes of the first and higher-order harmonics, we estimate a systematic error for v2 of about 0.007, with somewhat smaller uncertainty for the mid-centralities where the resolution of the event plane is high.
Elliptic flow as a function of transverse momen-tum for minimum bias events
We present the first measurements of charge-dependent correlations on angular difference variables $\eta_1 - \eta_2$ (pseudorapidity) and $\phi_1 - \phi_2$ (azimuth) for primary charged hadrons with transverse momentum $0.15 \leq p_t \leq 2$ GeV/$c$ and $|\eta| \leq 1.3$ from Au-Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 130$ GeV. We observe correlation structures not predicted by theory but consistent with evolution of hadron emission geometry with increasing centrality from one-dimensional fragmentation of color strings along the beam direction to an at least two-dimensional hadronization geometry along the beam and azimuth directions of a hadron-opaque bulk medium.
Normalized LS pair-number ratios $\widehat{r} [X(p_{t1}),X(p_{t2})]-1$ for collisions in centrality class (a) (most-central) in $(\eta_{1},\eta_{2})$.
Normalized LS pair-number ratios $\widehat{r} [X(p_{t1}),X(p_{t2})]-1$ for collisions in centrality class (a) (most-central) in $(\phi_{1},\phi_{2})$.
Two-particle CD joint autocorrelations $\widehat{N}(\widehat{r}-1)$ on $(\eta_{\Delta}, \phi_{\Delta})$ for most-central collisions.
We report the STAR measurement of Phi meson production in Au+Au and p+p collisions at sqrt (s)=200 GeV. Using the event mixing technique, the Phi spectra and yields are obtained at mid-rapidity for five centrality bins in Au+Au collisions and for non-singly-diffractive p+p collisions. It is found that the Phi transverse momentum distributions from Au+Au collisions are better fitted with a single-exponential while the p+p spectrum is better described by a double-exponential distribution. The measured nuclear modification factors indicate that Phi production in central Au+Au collisions is suppressed relative to peripheral collisions when scaled by the number of binary collisions. The systematics of <pt> versus centrality and the constant Phi/K- ratio versus beam species, centrality, and collision energy rule out kaon coalescence as the dominant mechanism for Phi production.
Transverse mass distributions for $\phi$ meson from Au+Au (circles) and p+p (squares) collisions at 200 GeV. For clarity, some Au+Au distributions for different centralities are scaled by factors. The top 5% data are obtained from the central trigger data set. All other distributions are obtained from the minimum-bias data set. Dashed lines represent the exponential fits to the distributions and the dotted-dashed line is the result of a double-exponential fit to the distribution from p+p collisions. Error bars are statistical errors only. (x500), (x30), etc. in plot refers to the scaling of data for clearer visual results.
Results of $\phi$ meson inverse slope parameter, $<p_T>$, and dN/dy from NSD p+p and Au+Au collisions at RHIC. All values are for |y| < 0.5. Systematic uncertainties: for Au, 11% on both dN/dy and $<p_T>$. For p+p, 15% on dN/dy and 5% on $<p_T>$.
$R_{CP}$ (a): The ratio of central (top 5%) over peripheral (60-80%) ($R_{CP}$) normalized by $<N_{bin}>$. The ratios for the $\Lambda$ and $K_S^0$, shown by dotted-dashed and dashed lines, are taken from [13]; $R_{AA}$ (b) and (c) are the ratios of central Au + Au (top 5%) to p + p and peripheral Au + Au (60-80%) to p + p, respectively. The values of $R_{AA}$ for charged hadrons are shown as open circles [25]. The width of the gray bands represent the uncertainties in the estimation of $<N_{bin}>$ summed in quadrature with the normalization uncertainties of the spectra. Errors on the $\phi$ data points are the statistical plus 15% systematic errors. Overall normalization errors from binary scaling are listed in the header of each column.
We report results on rho(770)^0 -> pi+pi- production at midrapidity in p+p and peripheral Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. This is the first direct measurement of rho(770)^0 -> pi+pi- in heavy-ion collisions. The measured rho^0 peak in the invariant mass distribution is shifted by ~40 MeV/c^2 in minimum bias p+p interactions and ~70 MeV/c^2 in peripheral Au+Au collisions. The rho^0 mass shift is dependent on transverse momentum and multiplicity. The modification of the rho^0 meson mass, width, and shape due to phase space and dynamical effects are discussed.
The raw $\pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ invariant mass distributions after subtraction of the like-sign reference distribution for minimum bias p+p (top) and peripheral Au+Au (bottom) interactions.
The raw $\pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ invariant mass (solid line) and the like-sign reference distributions (open circles) for peripheral Au+Au collisions.
The $\rho^{0}$ mass as a function of $p_{T}$ for minimum bias $p$+$p$ (filled circles), high multiplicity $p$+$p$ (open triangles), and peripheral Au+Au (filled squares) collisions. The error bars indicate the systematic uncertainty. Statistical errors are negligible. The $\rho^{0}$ mass was obtained by fitting the data to the BW×PS functional form described in the text. The dashed lines represent the average of the $\rho^{0}$ mass measured in $e^{+} e^{−}$. The shaded areas indicate the ρ0 mass measured in $p$+$p$ collisions. The open triangles have been shifted downward on the abscissa by $50$ MeV/$c$ for clarity.
We report results on the ratio of mid-rapidity anti-proton to proton yields in Au+Au collisions at $\rts = 130$ GeV per nucleon pair as measured by the STAR experiment at RHIC. Within the rapidity and transverse momentum range of $|y|<0.5$ and 0.4 $<p_t<$ 1.0 GeV/$c$, the ratio is essentially independent of either transverse momentum or rapidity, with an average of $0.65\pm 0.01_{\rm (stat.)} \pm 0.07_{\rm (syst.)}$ for minimum bias collisions. Within errors, no strong centrality dependence is observed. The results indicate that at this RHIC energy, although the $p$-$\pb$ pair production becomes important at mid-rapidity, a significant excess of baryons over anti-baryons is still present.
pbar over p ratio vs. pt
pbar over p ratio vs. rapidity (y)
pbar over p ratio vs. centrality $(n_{ch}/n_{max})$
Measurements of two-particle correlations on transverse momentum $p_t$ for Au-Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 130$ GeV are presented. Significant large-momentum-scale correlations are observed for charged primary hadrons with $0.15 \leq p_t \leq 2$ GeV/$c$ and pseudorapidity $|\eta| \leq 1.3$. Such correlations were not observed in a similar study at lower energy and are not predicted by theoretical collision models. Their direct relation to mean-$p_t$ fluctuations measured in the same angular acceptance is demonstrated. Positive correlations are observed for pairs of particles which have large $p_t$ values while negative correlations occur for pairs in which one particle has large $p_t$ and the other has much lower $p_t$. The correlation amplitudes per final state particle increase with collision centrality. The observed correlations are consistent with a scenario in which the transverse momentum of hadrons associated with initial-stage semi-hard parton scattering is dissipated by the medium to lower $p_t$.
Symmetrized pair-density net ratios $\widehat{r} [X(p_{t1}),X(p_{t2})]-1$ for all nonidentified charged primary particles for most-central Au-Au collision events at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=130$ GeV.
Symmetrized pair-density net ratios $\widehat{r}[X(p_{t1}),X(p_{t2})]-1$ for all nonidentified charged primary particles for mid-central Au-Au collision events at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=130$ GeV.
Symmetrized pair-density net ratios $\widehat{r}[X(p_{t1}),X(p_{t2})]-1$ for all nonidentified charged primary particles for mid-peripheral Au-Au collision events at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=130$ GeV.
We present STAR measurements of charged hadron production as a function of centrality in Au + Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 130 GeV. The measurements cover a phase space region of 0.2 < p_T < 6.0 GeV/c in transverse momentum and -1 < eta < 1 in pseudorapidity. Inclusive transverse momentum distributions of charged hadrons in the pseudorapidity region 0.5 < |eta| < 1 are reported and compared to our previously published results for |eta| < 0.5. No significant difference is seen for inclusive p_T distributions of charged hadrons in these two pseudorapidity bins. We measured dN/deta distributions and truncated mean p_T in a region of p_T > p_T^cut, and studied the results in the framework of participant and binary scaling. No clear evidence is observed for participant scaling of charged hadron yield in the measured p_T region. The relative importance of hard scattering process is investigated through binary scaling fraction of particle production.
Ratio of the number of participants Npart or the number of binary collisions Nbin determined from different models to that from Monte Carlo Glauber calculation.
Ratio of the number of participants Npart or the number of binary collisions Nbin determined from different models to that from Monte Carlo Glauber calculation.
Inclusive $p_{T}$ distributions of ($h^{+}$ + $h^{-}$)/2 within 0.5 $<|\eta|< 1$. The combined statistical and systematic errors are shown.
We present the results of a systematic study of the shape of the pion distribution in coordinate space at freeze-out in Au+Au collisions at RHIC using two-pion Hanbury Brown-Twiss (HBT) interferometry. Oscillations of the extracted HBT radii vs. emission angle indicate sources elongated perpendicular to the reaction plane. The results indicate that the pressure and expansion time of the collision system are not sufficient to completely quench its initial shape.
Squared HBT radii relative to the reaction plane angle for three centrality classes.
Squared HBT radii relative to the reaction plane angle for four kT (GeV/c) bins, 20-30% centrality events.
Fourier coefficients of azimuthal oscillations of HBT radii vs number of participating nucleons, for three kT (GeV/c) bins. Larger participant numbers correspond to more central collisions.
We present the first data on $e^+e^-$ pair production accompanied by nuclear breakup in ultra-peripheral gold-gold collisions at a center of mass energy of 200 GeV per nucleon pair. The nuclear breakup requirement selects events at small impact parameters, where higher-order corrections to the pair production cross section should be enhanced. We compare the pair kinematic distributions with two calculations: one based on the equivalent photon approximation, and the other using lowest-order quantum electrodynamics (QED): the latter includes the photon virtuality. The cross section, pair mass, rapidity and angular distributions are in good agreement with both calculations. The pair transverse momentum, $p_T$, spectrum agrees with the QED calculation, but not with the equivalent photon approach. We set limits on higher-order contributions to the cross section. The $e^+$ and $e^-$ $p_T$ spectra are similar, with no evidence for interference effects due to higher-order diagrams.
(a) The pair mass distribution, (b) pair $p){T}$ , (c) pair rapidity and (d) pair cos($\theta′$) distributions. The data (points) are compared with predictions from the EPA (solid histogram) and lowest-order QED (dashed histogram) calculations. The error bars include both statistical and systematic errors.
(a) The pair mass distribution, (b) pair $p){T}$ , (c) pair rapidity and (d) pair cos($\theta′$) distributions. The data (points) are compared with predictions from the EPA (solid histogram) and lowest-order QED (dashed histogram) calculations. The error bars include both statistical and systematic errors.
(a) The pair mass distribution, (b) pair $p){T}$ , (c) pair rapidity and (d) pair cos($\theta′$) distributions. The data (points) are compared with predictions from the EPA (solid histogram) and lowest-order QED (dashed histogram) calculations. The error bars include both statistical and systematic errors.
Transverse energy ($E_T$) distributions have been measured for Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}= 200$ GeV by the STAR collaboration at RHIC. $E_T$ is constructed from its hadronic and electromagnetic components, which have been measured separately. $E_T$ production for the most central collisions is well described by several theoretical models whose common feature is large energy density achieved early in the fireball evolution. The magnitude and centrality dependence of $E_T$ per charged particle agrees well with measurements at lower collision energy, indicating that the growth in $E_T$ for larger collision energy results from the growth in particle production. The electromagnetic fraction of the total $E_T$ is consistent with a final state dominated by mesons and independent of centrality.
Typical MIP spectrum. The hits correspond to isolated tracks with p > 1.25 GeV/c which project to EMC towers. The peak corresponds to the energy deposited by non-showering hadrons (MIP peak).
$p/E_{tower}$ spectrum for electron candidates, selected through $dE/dx$ from the TPC, with 1.5 < p < 5.0 GeV/c. A well defined electron peak is observed. The dashed line corresponds to the hadronic background in the $dE/dx$-identified electron sample.
Upper plot: points are measured $p/E_{tower}$ electron peak position as a function of the distance to the center of the tower. The solid line is from a calculation based on a full GEANT simulation of the detector response to electrons. Lower plot: points show measured energy deposited by electrons in the tower as a function of the momentum for distances to the center of the tower smaller than 2.0 cm. The first point is the electron equivalent energy of the minimum ionizing particles. The solid line is a second order polynomial fit of the data.
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