The longitudinal and transverse spin transfers to $\Lambda$ ($\overline{\Lambda}$) hyperons in polarized proton-proton collisions are expected to be sensitive to the helicity and transversity distributions, respectively, of (anti-)strange quarks in the proton, and to the corresponding polarized fragmentation functions. We report improved measurements of the longitudinal spin transfer coefficient, $D_{LL}$, and the transverse spin transfer coefficient, $D_{TT}$, to $\Lambda$ and $\overline{\Lambda}$ in polarized proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV by the STAR experiment at RHIC. The data set includes longitudinally polarized proton-proton collisions with an integrated luminosity of 52 pb$^{-1}$, and transversely polarized proton-proton collisions with a similar integrated luminosity. Both data sets have about twice the statistics of previous results and cover a kinematic range of $|\eta_{\Lambda(\overline{\Lambda})}|$$<$ 1.2 and transverse momentum $p_{T,{\Lambda(\overline{\Lambda})}}$ up to 8 GeV/$c$. We also report the first measurements of the hyperon spin transfer coefficients $D_{LL}$ and $D_{TT}$ as a function of the fractional jet momentum $z$ carried by the hyperon, which can provide more direct constraints on the polarized fragmentation functions.
'$D_{LL}$ as a function of $\cos\theta^{*}$ at $0 < \eta_{\Lambda(\overline{\Lambda})} < 1.2$ and $3 < p_{T} < 4 GeV/c$'
'$D_{TT}$ as a function of $\cos\theta^{*}$ at $0 < \eta_{jet} < 1.0$ and $0.5 < z < 0.7$'
'$\Lambda$ $D_{LL}$ as a function of $p_{T}$ at $0 < \eta_{\Lambda(\overline{\Lambda})} < 1.2$'
We measure triangular flow relative to the reaction plane at 3 GeV center-of-mass energy in Au+Au collisions at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. A significant $v_3$ signal for protons is observed, which increases for higher rapidity, higher transverse momentum, and more peripheral collisions. The triangular flow is essentially rapidity-odd with a slope at mid-rapidity, $dv_3/dy|_{(y=0)}$, opposite in sign compared to the slope for directed flow. No significant $v_3$ signal is observed for charged pions and kaons. Comparisons with models suggest that a mean field potential is required to describe these results, and that the triangular shape of the participant nucleons is the result of stopping and nuclear geometry.
Event plane resolutions for calculating $v_3\{\Psi_1\}$ as a function of centrality from $\sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}}=3$ GeV Au+Au collisions at STAR.
Event plane resolutions for calculating $v_3\{\Psi_1\}$ as a function of centrality from $\sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}}=3$ GeV Au+Au collisions at STAR.
$v_3\{\Psi_1\}$ vs. centrality for $\pi^+$, $\pi^-$, and protons using the event plane method in $\sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}}=3$ GeV Au+Au collisions at STAR.
Angular distributions of charged particles relative to jet axes are studied in $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}$ = 200 GeV Au+Au collisions as a function of the jet orientation with respect to the event plane. This differential study tests the expected path-length dependence of energy loss experienced by a hard-scattered parton as it traverses the hot and dense medium formed in heavy-ion collisions. A second-order event plane is used in the analysis as an experimental estimate of the reaction plane formed by the collision impact parameter and the beam direction. Charged-particle jets with $15 < p_{\rm T, jet} <$ 20 and $20 < p_{\rm T, jet} <$ 40 GeV/$c$ were reconstructed with the anti-$k_{\rm T}$ algorithm with radius parameter setting of (R=0.4) in the 20-50% centrality bin to maximize the initial-state eccentricity of the interaction region. The reaction plane fit method is implemented to remove the flow-modulated background with better precision than prior methods. Yields and widths of jet-associated charged-hadron distributions are extracted in three angular bins between the jet axis and the event plane. The event-plane (EP) dependence is further quantified by ratios of the associated yields in different EP bins. No dependence on orientation of the jet axis with respect to the event plane is seen within the uncertainties in the kinematic regime studied. This finding is consistent with a similar experimental observation by ALICE in $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}$ = 2.76 TeV Pb+Pb collision data.
Event-plane resolution, second-order harmonic relative to the event plane, $R_{2}(\Psi_{2})$, respectively.
Event-plane resolution, second-order harmonic relative to the event plane, $R_{4}(\Psi_{2})$, respectively.
$p_{T, jet}$ resolution for $15 < p_{T, jet}^{GEN} < 20$ GeV/c $R=0.4$ full jets. Jets are measured from all angles relative to the event plane in the 20-50% most central events.
The polarization of $\Lambda$ and $\bar{\Lambda}$ hyperons along the beam direction has been measured relative to the second and third harmonic event planes in isobar Ru+Ru and Zr+Zr collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. This is the first experimental evidence of the hyperon polarization by the triangular flow originating from the initial density fluctuations. The amplitudes of the sine modulation for the second and third harmonic results are comparable in magnitude, increase from central to peripheral collisions, and show a mild $p_T$ dependence. The azimuthal angle dependence of the polarization follows the vorticity pattern expected due to elliptic and triangular anisotropic flow, and qualitatively disagree with most hydrodynamic model calculations based on thermal vorticity and shear induced contributions. The model results based on one of existing implementations of the shear contribution lead to a correct azimuthal angle dependence, but predict centrality and $p_T$ dependence that still disagree with experimental measurements. Thus, our results provide stringent constraints on the thermal vorticity and shear-induced contributions to hyperon polarization. Comparison to previous measurements at RHIC and the LHC for the second-order harmonic results shows little dependence on the collision system size and collision energy.
$sgn(\alpha_H)\langle\cos(\theta_p^{\ast})\rangle$ of $\Lambda$ and $\bar{\Lambda}$ as a function of hyperon azimuthal angle relative to the second-order event plane in isobar collisions at 200 GeV.
$sgn(\alpha_H)\langle\cos(\theta_p^{\ast})\rangle$ of $\Lambda$ and $\bar{\Lambda}$ as a function of hyperon azimuthal angle relative to the third-order event plane in isobar collisions at 200 GeV.
$P_z$ sine coefficients of $\Lambda+\bar{\Lambda}$ as a function of centrality in isobar collisions at 200 GeV.
We report a new measurement of the production of electrons from open heavy-flavor hadron decays (HFEs) at mid-rapidity ($|y|<$ 0.7) in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=200$ GeV. Invariant yields of HFEs are measured for the transverse momentum range of $3.5 < p_{\rm T} < 9$ GeV/$c$ in various configurations of the collision geometry. The HFE yields in head-on Au+Au collisions are suppressed by approximately a factor of 2 compared to that in $p$+$p$ collisions scaled by the average number of binary collisions, indicating strong interactions between heavy quarks and the hot and dense medium created in heavy-ion collisions. Comparison of these results with models provides additional tests of theoretical calculations of heavy quark energy loss in the quark-gluon plasma.
Ratios of NPE (non-photonic electron) to PHE (photonic electron) as a function of $p_{\rm T}$ in 0-10% central (yellow circles) and 40-80% peripheral (green squares) Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=200$ GeV. Vertical bars represent statistical uncertainties while boxes represent systematic uncertainties. Horizontal bars indicate the bin width.
Invariant yields of electrons from decays of prompt $J/\psi$ (dot-dashed line), $\Upsilon$ (dotted line), Drell-Yan (long dash-dotted line), light vector mesons (long dashed line) and the combined HDE (hadron decayed electron) contribution (solid line), estimated utilizing experimental measurements, theoretical calculations, and PYTHIA and $\rm E_{VT}G_{EN}$ event generators, in 0-10% central Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=200$ GeV. Color bands represent systematic uncertainties.
Invariant yields of electrons from decays of prompt $J/\psi$ (dot-dashed line), $\Upsilon$ (dotted line), Drell-Yan (long dash-dotted line), light vector mesons (long dashed line) and the combined HDE (hadron decayed electron) contribution (solid line), estimated utilizing experimental measurements, theoretical calculations, and PYTHIA and $\rm E_{VT}G_{EN}$ event generators, in 40-80% central Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=200$ GeV. Color bands represent systematic uncertainties.
Density fluctuations near the QCD critical point can be probed via an intermittency analysis in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. We report the first measurement of intermittency in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{_{NN}}}$ = 7.7-200 GeV measured by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The scaled factorial moments of identified charged hadrons are analyzed at mid-rapidity and within the transverse momentum phase space. We observe a power-law behavior of scaled factorial moments in Au$+$Au collisions and a decrease in the extracted scaling exponent ($\nu$) from peripheral to central collisions. The $\nu$ is consistent with a constant for different collisions energies in the mid-central (10-40%) collisions. Moreover, the $\nu$ in the 0-5% most central Au$+$Au collisions exhibits a non-monotonic energy dependence that reaches a possible minimum around $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{_{NN}}}$ = 27 GeV. The physics implications on the QCD phase structure are discussed.
The scaled factorial moments, $F_{q}(M)$($q=$ 2-6), of identified charged hadrons ($h^{\pm}$) multiplicity in the most central (0-5\%) Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{_{NN}}}$ = 7.7 GeV.
The scaled factorial moments, $F_{q}(M)$($q=$ 2-6), of identified charged hadrons ($h^{\pm}$) multiplicity in the most central (0-5\%) Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{_{NN}}}$ = 19.6 GeV.
The scaled factorial moments, $F_{q}(M)$($q=$ 2-6), of identified charged hadrons ($h^{\pm}$) multiplicity in the most central (0-5\%) Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{_{NN}}}$ = 39 GeV.
We report here the first observation of directed flow ($v_1$) of the hypernuclei $^3_{\Lambda}$H and $^4_{\Lambda}$H in mid-central Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 3 GeV at RHIC. These data are taken as part of the beam energy scan program carried out by the STAR experiment. From 165 $\times$ 10$^{6}$ events in 5%-40% centrality, about 8400 $^3_{\Lambda}$H and 5200 $^4_{\Lambda}$H candidates are reconstructed through two- and three-body decay channels. We observe that these hypernuclei exhibit significant directed flow. Comparing to that of light nuclei, it is found that the midrapidity $v_1$ slopes of $^3_{\Lambda}$H and $^4_{\Lambda}$H follow baryon number scaling, implying that the coalescence is the dominant mechanism for these hypernuclei production in such collisions.
$\Lambda$ hyperon and hypernuclei directed flow $v_1$, shown as a function of rapidity, from the $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 3 GeV 5-40% mid-central Au+Au collisions. In the case of $^{3}_{\Lambda}$H $v_1$, both two-body (dots) and three-body (triangles) decays are used. The linear terms of the fitting for $#Lambda$, $^{3}_{\Lambda}$H and $^{4}_{\Lambda}$H are shown as the yellow-red lines. The rapidity dependence of $v_1$ for $p$, $d$, $t$, $^3$He, and $^4$He are also shown as open markers (circles, diamonds, up-triangles, down-triangles and squares), and the linear terms of the fitting results are shown as dashed lines in the positive rapidity region.
$\Lambda$ hyperon and hypernuclei directed flow $v_1$, shown as a function of rapidity, from the $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 3 GeV 5-40% mid-central Au+Au collisions. In the case of $^{3}_{\Lambda}$H $v_1$, both two-body (dots) and three-body (triangles) decays are used. The linear terms of the fitting for $#Lambda$, $^{3}_{\Lambda}$H and $^{4}_{\Lambda}$H are shown as the yellow-red lines. The rapidity dependence of $v_1$ for $p$, $d$, $t$, $^3$He, and $^4$He are also shown as open markers (circles, diamonds, up-triangles, down-triangles and squares), and the linear terms of the fitting results are shown as dashed lines in the positive rapidity region.
$\Lambda$ hyperon and hypernuclei directed flow $v_1$, shown as a function of rapidity, from the $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 3 GeV 5-40% mid-central Au+Au collisions. In the case of $^{3}_{\Lambda}$H $v_1$, both two-body (dots) and three-body (triangles) decays are used. The linear terms of the fitting for $#Lambda$, $^{3}_{\Lambda}$H and $^{4}_{\Lambda}$H are shown as the yellow-red lines. The rapidity dependence of $v_1$ for $p$, $d$, $t$, $^3$He, and $^4$He are also shown as open markers (circles, diamonds, up-triangles, down-triangles and squares), and the linear terms of the fitting results are shown as dashed lines in the positive rapidity region.
The linear and mode-coupled contributions to higher-order anisotropic flow are presented for Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}$ = 27, 39, 54.4, and 200 GeV and compared to similar measurements for Pb+Pb collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The coefficients and the flow harmonics' correlations, which characterize the linear and mode-coupled response to the lower-order anisotropies, indicate a beam energy dependence consistent with an influence from the specific shear viscosity ($\eta/s$). In contrast, the dimensionless coefficients, mode-coupled response coefficients, and normalized symmetric cumulants are approximately beam-energy independent, consistent with a significant role from initial-state effects. These measurements could provide unique supplemental constraints to (i) distinguish between different initial-state models and (ii) delineate the temperature ($T$) and baryon chemical potential ($\mu_{B}$) dependence of the specific shear viscosity $\frac{\eta}{s} (T, \mu_B)$.
Comparison of the integrated three-particle correlators for Au+Au collisions at 54.4 GeV.
Comparison of the integrated three-particle correlators for Au+Au collisions at 39.0 GeV.
Comparison of the integrated three-particle correlators for Au+Au collisions at 27.0 GeV.
We report the measurement of $K^{*0}$ meson at midrapidity ($|y|<$ 1.0) in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$~=~7.7, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27 and 39 GeV collected by the STAR experiment during the RHIC beam energy scan (BES) program. The transverse momentum spectra, yield, and average transverse momentum of $K^{*0}$ are presented as functions of collision centrality and beam energy. The $K^{*0}/K$ yield ratios are presented for different collision centrality intervals and beam energies. The $K^{*0}/K$ ratio in heavy-ion collisions are observed to be smaller than that in small system collisions (e+e and p+p). The $K^{*0}/K$ ratio follows a similar centrality dependence to that observed in previous RHIC and LHC measurements. The data favor the scenario of the dominance of hadronic re-scattering over regeneration for $K^{*0}$ production in the hadronic phase of the medium.
$p_{\mathrm T}$-differential yield of $\mathrm{K^{*0}} + \bar{\mathrm{K^{*0}}}$ in AuAu collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}~=~$7.7 GeV (Multiplicity class 0-20%).
$p_{\mathrm T}$-differential yield of $\mathrm{K^{*0}} + \bar{\mathrm{K^{*0}}}$ in AuAu collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}~=~$7.7 GeV (Multiplicity class 20-40%).
$p_{\mathrm T}$-differential yield of $\mathrm{K^{*0}} + \bar{\mathrm{K^{*0}}}$ in AuAu collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}~=~$7.7 GeV (Multiplicity class 40-60%).
We report a measurement of cumulants and correlation functions of event-by-event proton multiplicity distributions from fixed-target Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 3 GeV measured by the STAR experiment. Protons are identified within the rapidity ($y$) and transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) region $-0.9 < y<0$ and $0.4 < p_{\rm T} <2.0 $ GeV/$c$ in the center-of-mass frame. A systematic analysis of the proton cumulants and correlation functions up to sixth-order as well as the corresponding ratios as a function of the collision centrality, $p_{\rm T}$, and $y$ are presented. The effect of pileup and initial volume fluctuations on these observables and the respective corrections are discussed in detail. The results are compared to calculations from the hadronic transport UrQMD model as well as a hydrodynamic model. In the most central 5% collisions, the value of proton cumulant ratio $C_4/C_2$ is negative, drastically different from the values observed in Au+Au collisions at higher energies. Compared to model calculations including Lattice QCD, a hadronic transport model, and a hydrodynamic model, the strong suppression in the ratio of $C_4/C_2$ at 3 GeV Au+Au collisions indicates an energy regime dominated by hadronic interactions.
The uncorrected number of charged particles except protons ($N_{\rm ch}$) within the pseudorapidity $−2<\eta<0$ used for the centrality selection for Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 3 GeV. The centrality classes are expressed in % of the total cross section. The lower boundary of the particle multiplicity ($N_{\rm ch}$) is included for each centrality class. Values are provided for the average number of participants ($\langle N_{\rm part}\rangle$) and pileup fraction. The fraction of pileup for each centrality bin is also shown in the last column. The averaged pileup fraction from the minimum biased collisions is determined to be 0.46%. Values in the parentheses are systematic uncertainty.
The centrality definition determined by $N_{\rm part}$ in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 3 GeV from the UrQMD model. The centrality definition is only used in the UrQMD calculation.
Main contributors to systematic uncertainty to the proton cumulant ratios: $C_2/C_1$, $C_3/C_2$,and $C_4/C_2$ from 0–5% central 3 GeV Au+Au collisions. The first row shows the values and statistical uncertainties of those ratios. The corresponding values of these ratios along with the statistical uncertainties are listed in the table. The final total value is the quadratic sum of uncertainties from centrality, pileup, and the dominant contribution from TPC hits, DCA, TOF $m^2$, and detector efficiency. Clearly, this analysis is systematically dominant.
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