Rapidity-odd directed flow($v_1$) measurements for charged pions, protons and antiprotons near mid-rapidity ($y=0$) are reported in $\sqrt{s_{NN}} =$ 7.7, 11.5, 19.6, 27, 39, 62.4 and 200 GeV Au + Au collisions as recorded by the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). At intermediate impact parameters, the proton and net-proton slope parameter $dv_1/dy|_{y=0}$ shows a minimum between 11.5 and 19.6 GeV. In addition, the net-proton $dv_1/dy|_{y=0}$ changes sign twice between 7.7 and 39 GeV. The proton and net-proton results qualitatively resemble predictions of a hydrodynamic model with a first-order phase transition from hadronic matter to deconfined matter, and differ from hadronic transport calculations.
Directed flow for protons versus rapidity for central (0-10$\%$), intermediate-centrality (10-40$\%$) and peripheral (40-80$\%$) Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 39, 27, 19.6, 11.5 and 7.7 GeV. Errors are statistical only.
Directed flow for $\pi^{-}$ versus rapidity for central (0-10$\%$), intermediate-centrality (10-40$\%$) and peripheral (40-80$\%$) Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 39, 27, 19.6, 11.5 and 7.7 GeV. Errors are statistical only.
Directed flow for protons and anti-protons versus rapidity for intermediate-centrality (10-40$\%$) Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200, 62.4, 39, 27, 19.6, 11.5 and 7.7 GeV. Errors are statistical only.
STAR's measurements of directed flow ($v_1$) around midrapidity for $\pi^{\pm}$, K$^{\pm}$, K$_S^0$, $p$ and $\bar{p}$ in Au + Au collisions at $\sqrtsNN = 200$ GeV are presented. A negative $v_1(y)$ slope is observed for most of produced particles ($\pi^{\pm}$, K$^{\pm}$, K$_{S}^{0}$ and $\bar{p}$). In 5-30% central collisions a sizable difference is present between the $v_1(y)$ slope of protons and antiprotons, with the former being consistent with zero within errors. The $v_1$ excitation function is presented. Comparisons to model calculations (RQMD, UrQMD, AMPT, QGSM with parton recombination, and a hydrodynamics model with a tilted source) are made. For those models which have calculations of $v_1$ for both pions and protons, none of them can describe $v_1(y)$ for pions and protons simultaneously. The hydrodynamics model with a tilted source as currently implemented cannot explain the centrality dependence of the difference between the $v_1(y)$ slopes of protons and antiprotons.
$v_1$ for $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, $K_{S}^{0}$ (left panel), p and $\bar{p}$ (right panel) as a function of rapidity for 10-70$\%$ $Au + Au$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200$ GeV. The lines present the linear fit to the $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, $K_{S}^{0}$, p and $\bar{p}$’s $v_1$(y) respectively. Data points around $y = 0.29$ are slightly shifted horizontally to avoid overlapping.
$v_1$ for $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, $K_{S}^{0}$ (left panel), p and $\bar{p}$ (right panel) as a function of rapidity for 10-70$\%$ $Au + Au$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200$ GeV. The lines present the linear fit to the $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, $K_{S}^{0}$, p and $\bar{p}$’s $v_1$(y) respectively. Data points around $y = 0.29$ are slightly shifted horizontally to avoid overlapping.
$v_1$ for $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, $K_{S}^{0}$ (left panel), p and $\bar{p}$ (right panel) as a function of rapidity for 10-70$\%$ $Au + Au$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200$ GeV. The lines present the linear fit to the $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, $K_{S}^{0}$, p and $\bar{p}$’s $v_1$(y) respectively. Data points around $y = 0.29$ are slightly shifted horizontally to avoid overlapping.
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