We present the first study of the energy dependence of $p_t$ angular correlations inferred from event-wise mean transverse momentum $<p_{t} >$ fluctuations in heavy ion collisions. We compare our large-acceptance measurements at CM energies $\sqrt{s_{NN}} =$ 19.6, 62.4, 130 and 200 GeV to SPS measurements at 12.3 and 17.3 GeV. $p_t$ angular correlation structure suggests that the principal source of $p_t$ correlations and fluctuations is minijets (minimum-bias parton fragments). We observe a dramatic increase in correlations and fluctuations from SPS to RHIC energies, increasing linearly with $\ln \sqrt{s_{NN}}$ from the onset of observable jet-related $<p_{t}>$ fluctuations near 10 GeV.
Per-particle fluctuation dependence on pseudorapidity scale $\delta\eta$ in central collisions.
Per-particle fluctuation dependence on pseudorapidity scale $\delta\eta$ in central collisions.
Centrality dependence of $<p_t>$ fluctuations in the STAR acceptance for four energies. $\nu$ is the mean participant path length (please consult text).
We present results for two-particle transverse momentum correlations, <dpt,i dpt,j>, as a function of event centrality for Au+Au collisions at sqrt(sNN) = 20, 62, 130, and 200 GeV at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. We observe correlations decreasing with centrality that are similar at all four incident energies. The correlations multiplied by the multiplicity density increase with incident energy and the centrality dependence may show evidence of processes such as thermalization, minijet production, or the saturation of transverse flow. The square root of the correlations divided by the event-wise average transverse momentum per event shows little or no beam energy dependence and generally agrees with previous measurements at the Super Proton Synchrotron.
Average transverse momentum per event for Au+Au at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 20 GeV for the 5% most central collisions.
Average transverse momentum per event for Au+Au at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 62 GeV for the 5% most central collisions.
Average transverse momentum per event for Au+Au at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 130 GeV for the 5% most central collisions.
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