About 10 μs after the Big Bang, the universe was filled—in addition to photons and leptons—with strong-interaction matter consisting of quarks and gluons, which transitioned to hadrons at temperatures close to kT = 150 MeV and densities several times higher than those found in nuclei. This quantum chromodynamics (QCD) matter can be created in the laboratory as a transient state by colliding heavy ions at relativistic energies. The different phases in which QCD matter may exist depend for example on temperature, pressure or baryochemical potential, and can be probed by studying the emission of electromagnetic radiation. Electron–positron pairs emerge from the decay of virtual photons, which immediately decouple from the strong interaction, and thus provide information about the properties of QCD matter at various stages. Here, we report the observation of virtual photon emission from baryon-rich QCD matter. The spectral distribution of the electron–positron pairs is nearly exponential, providing evidence for a source of temperature in excess of 70 MeV with constituents whose properties have been modified, thus reflecting peculiarities of strong-interaction QCD matter. Its bulk properties are similar to the dense matter formed in the final state of a neutron star merger, as apparent from recent multimessenger observation.
Reconstructed $e^{+} e^{-}$ mass distribution from Au+Au collisions.
Reconstructed $e^{+} e^{-}$ mass distribution from Au+Au collisions.
Reconstructed $e^{+} e^{-}$ mass distribution from Au+Au collisions.
We report on the measurement of the beam asymmetry $\Sigma$ for the reactions $\vec{\gamma}p\rightarrow p\eta$ and $\vec{\gamma}p \rightarrow p\eta^{\prime}$ from the GlueX experiment, using an 8.2--8.8 GeV linearly polarized tagged photon beam incident on a liquid hydrogen target in Hall D at Jefferson Lab. These measurements are made as a function of momentum transfer $-t$, with significantly higher statistical precision than our earlier $\eta$ measurements, and are the first measurements of $\eta^{\prime}$ in this energy range. We compare the results to theoretical predictions based on $t$--channel quasi-particle exchange. We also compare the ratio of $\Sigma_{\eta}$ to $\Sigma_{\eta^{\prime}}$ to these models, as this ratio is predicted to be sensitive to the amount of $s\bar{s}$ exchange in the production. We find that photoproduction of both $\eta$ and $\eta^{\prime}$ is dominated by natural parity exchange with little dependence on $-t$.
Values and errors for the photon beam asymmetry $\Sigma_{\eta}$ for the reaction $\gamma p \rightarrow \eta p$ with $\eta\rightarrow\gamma\gamma$. For the binning in $t$, we report the range of the data, the event-weighted mean of all $t$ values, and the RMS of that distribution. For $\Sigma_{\eta}$, we report the value, statistical error, and systematic error. The total error is the sum of the previous two in quadrature. Not reported here is the $2.1\%$ relative uncertainty due to the determination of the polarization of the photon beam.
Values and errors for the photon beam asymmetry $\Sigma_{\eta\prime}$ for the reaction $\gamma p \rightarrow \eta^{\prime} p$ with $\eta^{\prime}\rightarrow \eta\pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ and the $\eta\rightarrow\gamma\gamma$. For the binning in $t$, we report the range of the data, the event-weighted mean of all $t$ values, and the RMS of that distribution. For $\Sigma_{\eta\prime}$, we report the value, statistical error, and systematic error. The total error is the sum of the previous two in quadrature. Not reported here is the $2.1\%$ relative uncertainty due to the determination of the polarization of the photon beam.
Values and errors for the ratio of photon beam asymmetries $\Sigma_{\eta\prime}/\Sigma_{\eta}$ for the reported reactions. To form the ratio, the $\eta$ analysis is done with the same binning in $t$ as the $\eta^\prime$ analysis, and for each bin we report the range of the data, the event-weighted mean of all $t$ values, and the RMS of that distribution. For $\Sigma_{\eta\prime}/\Sigma_{\eta}$, we report the value, statistical error, and systematic error. The total error is the sum of the previous two in quadrature.}
We present first data on sub-threshold production of K0 s mesons and {\Lambda} hyperons in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 2.4 GeV. We observe an universal <Apart> scaling of hadrons containing strangeness, independent of their corresponding production thresholds. Comparing the yields, their <Apart> scaling, and the shapes of the rapidity and the pt spectra to state-of-the-art transport model (UrQMD, HSD, IQMD) predictions, we find that none of the latter can simultaneously describe all observables with reasonable \c{hi}2 values.
Example of $K^{0}_{S}$ signal for 0-40% most central events, over mixed-event background for the bin $-0.05 < y_{cm} < 0.05$ and reduced transverse masses between $80-120 MeV/c^{2}$.
Example of $\Lambda$ signal for 0-40% most central events, over mixed-event background for the bin $-0.05 < y_{cm} < 0.05$ and reduced transverse masses between $100-150 MeV/c^{2}$.
Reduced transverse mass ($m_{t}-m_{0}$) spectra of $K^{0}_{S}$ for the 0-40% most central events. NOTE: The spectra are not scaled by $1/N_{Events}$! To compare the data, divide by $N_{Events} = 2.1997626 x 10^{9}$
Using a low background data sample of $9.7\times10^{5}$ $J\psi\rightarrow\gamma\eta^\prime$, $\eta^\prime\rightarrow\gamma\pi^+\pi^-$ events, which are 2 orders of magnitude larger than those from the previous experiments, recorded with the BESIII detector at BEPCII, the decay dynamics of $\eta^\prime\rightarrow\gamma\pi^+\pi^-$ are studied with both model-dependent and model-independent approaches. The contributions of $\omega$ and the $\rho(770)-\omega$ interference are observed for the first time in the decays $\eta^\prime\rightarrow\gamma\pi^+\pi^-$ in both approaches. Additionally, a contribution from the box anomaly or the $\rho(1450)$ resonance is required in the model-dependent approach, while the process specific part of the decay amplitude is determined in the model-independent approach.
Numbers of events selected (Column 2), numbers of background events from sideband (Column 3), efficiencies (Column 4), and resolution RMS (Column 5) for different $M_{\pi^+\pi^-}$ bins.
We present data on charged kaons (K+-) and {\phi} mesons in Au(1.23A GeV)+Au collisions. It is the first simultaneous measurement of K and {\phi} mesons in central heavy-ion collisions below a kinetic beam energy of 10A GeV. The {\phi}/K- multiplicity ratio is found to be surprisingly high with a value of 0.52 +- 0.16 and shows no dependence on the centrality of the collision. Consequently, the different slopes of the K+ and K- transverse-mass spectra can be explained solely by feed- down, which substantially softens the spectra of K- mesons. Hence, in contrast to the commonly adapted argumentation in literature, the different slopes do not necessarily imply diverging freeze- out temperatures of K+ and K- mesons caused by different couplings to baryons.
Acceptance and efficiency corrected transverse-mass spectra around mid-rapidity.
$K^{+}$ signal and the corresponding background fit for the region covering mid-rapidity and $m_{t}−m_{0}$ between 25 and 50 $MeV/c^{2}$.
$K^{-}$ signal and the corresponding background fit for the region covering mid-rapidity and $m_{t}−m_{0}$ between 50 and 75 $MeV/c^{2}$.
We present the first measurement of the two-particle transverse momentum differential correlation function, $P_2\equiv\langle \Delta p_{\rm T} \Delta p_{\rm T} \rangle /\langle p_{\rm T} \rangle^2$, in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm NN}}} =$ 2.76 TeV. Results for $P_2$ are reported as a function of relative pseudorapidity ($\Delta \eta$) and azimuthal angle ($\Delta \varphi$) between two particles for different collision centralities. The $\Delta \phi$ dependence is found to be largely independent of $\Delta \eta$ for $|\Delta \eta| \geq$ 0.9. In 5% most central Pb-Pb collisions, the two-particle transverse momentum correlation function exhibits a clear double-hump structure around $\Delta \varphi = \pi$ (i.e., on the away side), which is not observed in number correlations in the same centrality range, and thus provides an indication of the dominance of triangular flow in this collision centrality. Fourier decompositions of $P_2$, studied as a function of collision centrality, show that correlations at $|\Delta \eta| \geq$ 0.9 can be well reproduced by a flow ansatz based on the notion that measured momentum correlations are strictly determined by the collective motion of the system.
Projection of $P_{2}$ along $\Delta\varphi$ in 0-5% centrality in the range $|\Delta \eta| \geq$ 0.9
$v_{2}$ coefficients measured from $P_2$ for particle pairs in the range $0.2 \leq |\Delta\eta| \leq 0.9$.
$v_{2}$ coefficients measured from $P_2$ for particle pairs in the range $0.9 \leq |\Delta\eta| \leq 1.9$.
We present results on transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) and rapidity ($y$) differential production cross sections, mean transverse momentum and mean transverse momentum square of inclusive J/$\psi$ and $\psi(2S)$ at forward rapidity ($2.5<y<4$) as well as $\psi(2S)$-to-J/$\psi$ cross section ratios. These quantities are measured in pp collisions at center of mass energies $\sqrt{s}=5.02$ and 13 TeV with the ALICE detector. Both charmonium states are reconstructed in the dimuon decay channel, using the muon spectrometer. A comprehensive comparison to inclusive charmonium cross sections measured at $\sqrt{s}=2.76$, 7 and 8 TeV is performed. A comparison to non-relativistic quantum chromodynamics and fixed-order next-to-leading logarithm calculations, which describe prompt and non-prompt charmonium production respectively, is also presented. A good description of the data is obtained over the full $p_{\rm T}$ range, provided that both contributions are summed. In particular, it is found that for $p_{\rm T}>15$ GeV/$c$ the non-prompt contribution reaches up to 50% of the total charmonium yield.
Differential production cross sections of $J/\psi$ as a function of $p_{\rm T}$.
Differential production cross sections of $J/\psi$ as a function of rapidity.
Differential production cross sections of $\psi(2S)$ as a function of $p_{\rm T}$.
We report measurements of the photon beam asymmetry $\Sigma$ for the reactions $\vec{\gamma}p\to p\pi^0$ and $\vec{\gamma}p\to p\eta $ from the GlueX experiment using a 9 GeV linearly-polarized, tagged photon beam incident on a liquid hydrogen target in Jefferson Lab's Hall D. The asymmetries, measured as a function of the proton momentum transfer, possess greater precision than previous $\pi^0$ measurements and are the first $\eta$ measurements in this energy regime. The results are compared with theoretical predictions based on $t$-channel, quasi-particle exchange and constrain the axial-vector component of the neutral meson production mechanism in these models.
Measurement of the beam asymmetry $\Sigma$ for $\pi^0$ photoproduction on the proton at $E_\gamma = 9$ GeV. The uncorrelated systematic errors (syst) are given in the table below along with a correlated normalization uncertainty (norm) of 3.6% due to the beam polarization.
Measurement of the beam asymmetry $\Sigma$ for $\eta$ photoproduction on the proton at $E_\gamma = 9$ GeV. The uncorrelated systematic errors (syst) are given in the table below along with a correlated normalization uncertainty (norm) of 3.6% due to the beam polarization.
None
No description provided.
The π+—photoproduction cross section is found to have a peak in the forward direction in disagreement with simple Regge pole models.
No description provided.