The NA61/SHINE experiment at the CERN SPS is performing a uniqe study of the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter by varying collision energy and nuclear mass number of colliding nuclei. In central Pb+Pb collisions the NA49 experiment found structures in the energy dependence of several observables in the CERN SPS energy range that had been predicted for the transition to a deconfined phase. New measurements of NA61/SHINE find intriguing similarities in p+p interactions for which no deconfinement transition is expected at SPS energies. Possible implications will be discussed.
Results on $\phi$ meson production in inelastic p+p collisions at CERN SPS energies are presented. They are derived from data collected by the NA61/SHINE fixed target experiment, by means of invariant mass spectra fits in the $\phi \to K^+K^-$ decay channel. They include the first ever measured double differential spectra of $\phi$ mesons as a function of rapidity $y$ and transverse momentum $p_T$ for proton beam momenta of 80 GeV/c and 158 GeV/c, as well as single differential spectra of $y$ or $p_T$ for beam momentum of 40 GeV/c. The corresponding total $\phi$ yields per inelastic p+p event are obtained. These results are compared with existing data on $\phi$ meson production in p+p collisions. The comparison shows consistency but superior accuracy of the present measurements. The emission of $\phi$ mesons in p+p reactions is confronted with that occurring in Pb+Pb collisions, and the experimental results are compared with model predictions. It appears that none of the considered models can properly describe all the experimental observables.
Double differential multiplicity of $\phi$ mesons produced in minimum bias p+p collisions at beam momentum of 158 GeV/c, as a function of transverse momentum $p_T$ and rapidity $y$.
Double differential multiplicity of $\phi$ mesons produced in minimum bias p+p collisions at beam momentum of 80 GeV/c, as a function of transverse momentum $p_T$ and rapidity $y$.
Transverse momentum $p_T$ spectrum of $\phi$ mesons produced in minimum bias p+p collisions at beam momentum of 40 GeV/c, in a broad rapidity $y$ bin of (0, 1.5).
This paper presents several measurements of total production cross sections and total inelastic cross sections for the following reactions: $\pi^{+}$+C, $\pi^{+}$+Al, $K^{+}$+C, $K^{+}$+Al at 60 GeV/c, $\pi^{+}$+C and $\pi^{+}$+Al at 31 GeV/c . The measurements were made using the NA61/SHINE spectrometer at the CERN SPS. Comparisons with previous measurements are given and good agreement is seen. These interaction cross sections measurements are a key ingredient for neutrino flux prediction from the reinteractions of secondary hadrons in current and future accelerator-based long-baseline neutrino experiments.
Results of production cross section measurements on $\pi^+$ and $K^+$ beams. Measured channeles are $\pi^+$+C, $\pi^+$+Al, $K^+$+C, and $K^+$+Al at 60 GeV/c and $\pi^+$+C and $\pi^+$+Al at 31 GeV/c.
Results of inelastic cross section measurements on $\pi^+$ and $K^+$ beams. Measured channeles are $\pi^+$+C, $\pi^+$+Al, $K^+$+C, and $K^+$+Al at 60 GeV/c and $\pi^+$+C and $\pi^+$+Al at 31 GeV/c.
The production cross section of 30.92 GeV/$c$ protons on carbon is measured by the NA61/SHINE spectrometer at the CERN SPS by means of beam attenuation in a copy (replica) of the 90-cm-long target of the T2K neutrino oscillation experiment. The employed method for direct production cross-section estimation minimizes model corrections for elastic and quasi-elastic interactions. The obtained production cross section is $\sigma_\mathrm{prod}~=~227.6~\pm~0.8\mathrm{(stat)}~_{-~3.2}^{+~1.9}\mathrm{(sys)}~{-~0.8}\mathrm{(mod)}$ mb. It is in agreement with previous NA61/SHINE results obtained with a thin carbon target, while providing improved precision with a total fractional uncertainty of less than 2$\%$. This direct measurement is performed to reduce the uncertainty on the T2K neutrino flux prediction associated with the re-weighting of the interaction rate of neutrino-yielding hadrons.
Production cross section in p+C interactions at different incident beam momenta.
Production cross section in p+C interactions at different beam momenta. The total uncertainty is the statistical, systematic and model uncertainties added in quadrature.
This paper presents measurements of production cross sections and inelastic cross sections for the following reactions: 60 GeV/$c$ protons with C, Be, Al targets and 120 GeV/$c$ protons with C and Be targets. The analysis was performed using the NA61/SHINE spectrometer at the CERN SPS. First measurements were obtained using protons at 120 GeV/$c$, while the results for protons at 60 GeV/$c$ were compared with previously published measurements. These interaction cross section measurements are critical inputs for neutrino flux prediction in current and future accelerator-based long-baseline neutrino experiments.
Results of production cross section measurements on proton beams. Measured channeles are p+C/Be/Al at 60 GeV and p+C/Be at 120 GeV.
Results of inelastic cross section measurements on proton beams. Measured channeles are p+C/Be/Al at 60 GeV and p+C/Be at 120 GeV.
Measurements of the $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, and proton double differential yields emitted from the surface of the 90-cm-long carbon target (T2K replica) were performed for the incoming 31 GeV/c protons with the NA61/SHINE spectrometer at the CERN SPS using data collected during 2010 run. The double differential $\pi^{\pm}$ yields were measured with increased precision compared to the previously published NA61/SHINE results, while the $K^{\pm}$ and proton yields were obtained for the first time. A strategy for dealing with the dependence of the results on the incoming proton beam profile is proposed. The purpose of these measurements is to reduce significantly the (anti)neutrino flux uncertainty in the T2K long-baseline neutrino experiment by constraining the production of (anti)neutrino ancestors coming from the T2K target.
Double differential yiedls of positively charged pions emitted from the surface of the T2K replica target, in the polar angle range from 0 to 20 mrad and in the longitudinal range from 0 to 18cm, as a function of momentum. The normalization is per proton on target.
Double differential yiedls of positively charged pions emitted from the surface of the T2K replica target, in the polar angle range from 20 to 40 mrad and in the longitudinal range from 0 to 18cm, as a function of momentum. The normalization is per proton on target.
Double differential yiedls of positively charged pions emitted from the surface of the T2K replica target, in the polar angle range from 40 to 60 mrad and in the longitudinal range from 0 to 18cm, as a function of momentum. The normalization is per proton on target.
Strong interactions preserve an approximate isospin symmetry between up ($u$) and down ($d$) quarks, part of the more general flavor symmetry. In the case of $K$ meson production, if this isospin symmetry were exact, it would result in equal numbers of charged ($K^+$ and $K^-$) and neutral ($K^0$ and $\overline K^{\,0}$) mesons in the final state. Here, we report results on the relative abundance of charged over neutral $K$ meson production in argon and scandium nuclei collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 11.9 GeV per nucleon pair. We find that the production of $K^+$ and $K^-$ mesons at mid-rapidity is $(18.4\pm 6.1)\%$ higher than that of the neutral $K$ mesons. Although with large uncertainties, earlier data on nucleus-nucleus collisions in the collision center-of-mass energy range $2.6 < \sqrt{s_{NN}} < 200$~\GeV are consistent with the present result. Using well-established models for hadron production, we demonstrate that known isospin-symmetry breaking effects and the initial nuclei containing more neutrons than protons lead only to a small (few percent) deviation of the charged-to-neutral kaon ratio from unity at high energies. Thus, they cannot explain the measurements. The significance of the flavor-symmetry violation beyond the known effects is 4.7$\sigma$ when the compilation of world data with uncertainties quoted by the experiments is used. New systematic, high-precision measurements and theoretical efforts are needed to establish the origin of the observed large isospin-symmetry breaking.
Numerical data for $K^0_S$ from Figure 1.
Numerical data for $K^0_S$ from Figure 1.
Numerical data for $(K^+ + K^-)/2$ from Figure 1.
Measurements of hadron production in p+C interactions at 31 GeV/c are performed using the NA61/ SHINE spectrometer at the CERN SPS. The analysis is based on the full set of data collected in 2009 using a graphite target with a thickness of 4% of a nuclear interaction length. Inelastic and production cross sections as well as spectra of $\pi^\pm$, $K^\pm$, p, $K^0_S$ and $\Lambda$ are measured with high precision. These measurements are essential for improved calculations of the initial neutrino fluxes in the T2K long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment in Japan. A comparison of the NA61/SHINE measurements with predictions of several hadroproduction models is presented.
The double differential $\pi^+$ production cross section in the laboratory system for p+C interactions at 31 GeV$/c$. The results are presented as a function of momentum, $p$ (in [GeV/$c$]), in different angular intervals, $\theta$ (in [mrad]). The statistical and systematic errors are quoted.
The double differential $\pi^+$ production cross section in the laboratory system for p+C interactions at 31 GeV$/c$. The results are presented as a function of momentum, $p$ (in [GeV/$c$]), in different angular intervals, $\theta$ (in [mrad]). The statistical and systematic errors are quoted.
The double differential $\pi^+$ production cross section in the laboratory system for p+C interactions at 31 GeV$/c$. The results are presented as a function of momentum, $p$ (in [GeV/$c$]), in different angular intervals, $\theta$ (in [mrad]). The statistical and systematic errors are quoted.
Results on two-particle $\Delta\eta\Delta\phi$ correlations in inelastic p+p interactions at 20, 31, 40, 80, and 158~GeV/c are presented. The measurements were performed using the large acceptance NA61/SHINE hadron spectrometer at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron. The data show structures which can be attributed mainly to effects of resonance decays, momentum conservation, and quantum statistics. The results are compared with the EPOS and UrQMD models.
Two-particle correlation function C(Delta eta, Delta phi) for all charge pairs in inelastic p+p interactions at 20 GeV/c.
Two-particle correlation function C(Delta eta, Delta phi) for all charge pairs in inelastic p+p interactions at 31 GeV/c.
Two-particle correlation function C(Delta eta, Delta phi) for all charge pairs in inelastic p+p interactions at 40 GeV/c.
Inclusive production of $\Lambda$-hyperons was measured with the large acceptance NA61/SHINE spectrometer at the CERN SPS in inelastic p+p interactions at beam momentum of 158~\GeVc. Spectra of transverse momentum and transverse mass as well as distributions of rapidity and x$_{_F}$ are presented. The mean multiplicity was estimated to be $0.120\,\pm0.006\;(stat.)\,\pm 0.010\;(sys.)$. The results are compared with previous measurements and predictions of the EPOS, UrQMD and FRITIOF models.
Double-differential yield $\frac{d^2n}{dydp_{_T}}$.
Double-differential yield $\frac{d^2n}{dydm_{_T}}$.
Double-differential yields, $\frac{d^{2}n}{x_{_F}p_{_T}}$ and $f_n(x_{_F},p_{T})$, for $x_{_F}<0$.
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