The extreme temperatures and energy densities generated by ultra-relativistic collisions between heavy nuclei produce a state of matter with surprising fluid properties. Non-central collisions have angular momentum on the order of 1000$\hbar$, and the resulting fluid may have a strong vortical structure that must be understood to properly describe the fluid. It is also of particular interest because the restoration of fundamental symmetries of quantum chromodynamics is expected to produce novel physical effects in the presence of strong vorticity. However, no experimental indications of fluid vorticity in heavy ion collisions have so far been found. Here we present the first measurement of an alignment between the angular momentum of a non-central collision and the spin of emitted particles, revealing that the fluid produced in heavy ion collisions is by far the most vortical system ever observed. We find that $\Lambda$ and $\overline{\Lambda}$ hyperons show a positive polarization of the order of a few percent, consistent with some hydrodynamic predictions. A previous measurement that reported a null result at higher collision energies is seen to be consistent with the trend of our new observations, though with larger statistical uncertainties. These data provide the first experimental access to the vortical structure of the "perfect fluid" created in a heavy ion collision. They should prove valuable in the development of hydrodynamic models that quantitatively connect observations to the theory of the Strong Force. Our results extend the recent discovery of hydrodynamic spin alignment to the subatomic realm.
Lambda and AntiLambda polarization as a function of collision energy. A 0.8% error on the alpha value used in the paper is corrected in this table. Systematic error bars include those associated with particle identification (negligible), uncertainty in the value of the hyperon decay parameter (2%) and reaction plane resolution (2%) and detector efficiency corrections (4%). The dominant systematic error comes from statistical fluctuations of the estimated combinatoric background under the (anti-)$\Lambda$ mass peak.
Lambda and AntiLambda polarization as a function of collision energy calculated using the new $\alpha_\Lambda=0.732$ updated on PDG2020. Systematic error bars include those associated with particle identification (negligible), uncertainty in the value of the hyperon decay parameter (2%) and reaction plane resolution (2%) and detector efficiency corrections (4%). The dominant systematic error comes from statistical fluctuations of the estimated combinatoric background under the (anti-)$\Lambda$ mass peak.
We have measured the polarizations of J/ψ and ψ(2S) mesons as functions of their transverse momentum pT when they are produced promptly in the rapidity range |y|<0.6 with pT≥5 GeV/c. The analysis is performed using a data sample with an integrated luminosity of about 800 pb−1 collected by the CDF II detector. For both vector mesons, we find that the polarizations become increasingly longitudinal as pT increases from 5 to 30 GeV/c. These results are compared to the predictions of nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics and other contemporary models. The effective polarizations of J/ψ and ψ(2S) mesons from B-hadron decays are also reported.
Polarization parameter ALPHA for J/PSI production.
Polarization parameter ALPHA for PSI(2S) production.
We present the first measurements of the double spin asymmetries A_NN and A_SS at sqrt{s}=200 GeV, obtained by the pp2pp experiment using polarized proton beams at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The data were collected in the four momentum transfer t range 0.01<|t|<0.03 (GeV/c)^2. The measured asymmetries, which are consistent with zero, allow us to estimate upper limits on the double helicity-flip amplitudes phi_2 and phi_4 at small t as well as on the difference Delta(sigma_T) between the total cross sections for transversely polarized protons with antiparallel or parallel spin orientations.
Double spin asymmetries.
Double spin asymmetries.
T dependence of the double spin asymmetry ASS3 with statistical errors only.
We report on the first measurement of the single spin analyzing power (A_N) at sqrt(s)=200GeV, obtained by the pp2pp experiment using polarized proton beams at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). Data points were measured in the four momentum transfer t range 0.01 < |t| < 0.03 (GeV/c)^2. Our result, averaged over the whole t-interval is about one standard deviation above the calculation, which uses interference between electromagnetic spin-flip amplitude and hadronic non-flip amplitude, the source of A_N. The difference could be explained by an additional contribution of a hadronic spin-flip amplitude to A_N.
The single spin analyzing power for 3 T intervals.
New accurate results of the neutron-proton spin-dependent total cross section difference $\Delta\sigma_{\mathrm L}(np)$
Unpolarized total cross sections.
Final results for SIG(NAME=CLL).
We show that Σ+ hyperons produced by 800 GeV/c protons on targets of Be and Cu have significant polarizations (15–20%). These polarizations persist at values of pt≈2 GeV/c and a wide range of xF. The polarizations from the Cu target are consistently less than from Be. The average ratio of the Σ+ polarization from Cu to that from Be is 0.68±0.08.
Measured values of the SIGMA+ polarization as functions of PT and XL for proton CU collisions.
Measured values of the SIGMA+ polarization as functions of PT and XL for proton BE collisions.
The analyzing powers of π+ and π− were measured using an incident 22−GeV/c transversely polarized proton beam at the Brookhaven Alternating Gradient Synchrotron. A magnetic spectrometer measured π± inclusive asymmetries on a hydrogen and a carbon target. An elastic polarimeter with a CH2 target measured pp elastic-scattering asymmetries to determine the beam polarization using published data for the pp elastic analyzing power. Using the beam polarization determined from the elastic polarimeter and asymmetries from the inclusive spectrometer, analyzing powers AN for π± were determined in the xF and pT ranges (0.45–0.8) and (0.3–1.2 GeV/c), respectively. The analyzing power results are similar in both sign and character to other measurements at 200 and 11.7 GeV/c, confirming the expectation that high-energy pion inclusive analyzing powers remain large and relatively energy independent. This suggests that pion inclusive polarimetry may be a suitable method for measuring future beam polarizations at BNL RHIC or DESY HERA. Analyzing powers of π+ and π− produced on hydrogen and carbon targets are the same. Various models to explain inclusive analyzing powers are also discussed.
Analyzing power measurements for PI+ and PI- production on the carbon target at incident momentum 21.6 GeV. See text of article for definitions of method 'A' and 'B'.
Analyzing power measurements for inclusive PI- production from the hydrogen target.
Analyzing power measurements for inclusive PI+ production from the hydrogen target.
The exclusive photoproduction of J/psi mesons, gamma p->J/psi p, has been studied in ep collisions with the ZEUS detector at HERA, in the kinematic range 20<W<290 GeV, where W is the photon-proton centre-of-mass energy. The J/psi mesons were reconstructed in the muon and the electron decay channels using integrated luminosities of 38 pb^-1 and 55 pb^-1, respectively. The helicity structure of J/psi production shows that the hypothesis of s-channel helicity conservation is satisfied at the two standard-deviation level. The total cross section and the differential cross-section dsigma/dt, where t is the squared four-momentum transfer at the proton vertex, are presented as a function of W, for |t|<1.8 GeV^2. The t distribution exhibits an exponential shape with a slope parameter increasing logarithmically with W with a value b=4.15 \pm 0.05 (stat.)^{+0.30}_{-0.18} (syst.) GeV^-2 at W=90 GeV. The effective parameters of the Pomeron trajectory are alphapom(0) = 1.200 \pm 0.009(stat.)^{+0.004}_{-0.010}(syst.) and alphappom= 0.115 \pm 0.018(stat.)^{+0.008}_{-0.015}(syst.) GeV^-2.
The total exclusive J/PSI photoproduction cross section, the differential cross section extrapolated to t=0 and the slope parameter of the exponential t dependence as afunction of W, the photon-proton c.m. energy, for data from J/PSI muon decay.
The total exclusive J/PSI photoproduction cross section as a function of W,the photon-proton c.m. energy, for data from J/PSI electron decays.
The differential cross section extrapolated to t=0 and the slope parameter of the exponential t dependence for exclusive J/PSI photoproduction as a function of W, the photon-proton c.m. energy for data from J/PSI electron decays.
We report on measurements of the ϒ(1S), ϒ(2S), and ϒ(3S) differential cross sections (d2σ/dpTdy)|y|<0.4, as well as on the ϒ(1S) polarization in pp¯ collisions at s=1.8TeV using a sample of 77±3pb−1 collected by the collider detector at Fermilab. The three resonances were reconstructed through the decay ϒ→μ+μ−. The measured angular distribution of the muons in the ϒ(1S) rest frame is consistent with unpolarized meson production.
The differential cross section times the branching ratio into mu+ mu- for UPSILON(1S) production.
The differential cross section times the branching ratio into mu+ mu- for UPSILON(2S) production. The first DSYS error is the systematic error due to the polarization of the UPSILON which is shown seperately from the other systematic errors.
The differential cross section times the branching ratio into mu+ mu- for UPSILON(3S) production. The first DSYS error is the systematic error due to the polarization of the UPSILON which is shown seperately from the other systematic errors.
We present a measurement of the polarization observed for bottomonium states produced in p-Cu collisions at sqrt(s)=38.8 GeV. The angular distribution of the decay dimuons of the Upsilon(1S) state show no polarization at small xF and pT but significant positive transverse production polarization for either pT > 1.8 GeV/c or for xF > 0.35. The Upsilon(2S+3S) unresolved states show a large transverse production polarization at all values of xF and pT measured. These observations are compared with an NRQCD calculation that predicts a transverse polarization in bottomonium production arising from quark-antiquark fusion and gluon-gluon fusion diagrams.
The observed polarization in the Drell-Yan sideband region as a function of PT. There is an additional systematic uncertainty of 0.02 in the polarization measurements.
The observed polarization in the Drell-Yan sideband region as a function of XL. There is an additional systematic uncertainty of 0.02 in the polarization measurements.
The observed polarization in the UPSILON(1S) region as a function of PT. There is an additional systematic error of 0.06 in the polarization measurements.
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