We report on the nuclear dependence of transverse single-spin asymmetries (TSSAs) in the production of positively-charged hadrons in polarized $p^{\uparrow}+p$, $p^{\uparrow}+$Al and $p^{\uparrow}+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV. The measurements have been performed at forward rapidity ($1.4<\eta<2.4$) over the range of $1.8<p_{T}<7.0$ GeV$/c$ and $0.1<x_{F}<0.2$. We observed a positive asymmetry $A_{N}$ for positively-charged hadrons in \polpp collisions, and a significantly reduced asymmetry in $p^{\uparrow}$+$A$ collisions. These results reveal a nuclear dependence of charged hadron $A_N$ in a regime where perturbative techniques are relevant. These results provide new opportunities to use \polpA collisions as a tool to investigate the rich phenomena behind TSSAs in hadronic collisions and to use TSSA as a new handle in studying small-system collisions.
$A_N$ as a function of $A^{1/3}$ for positively-charged hadrons at 1.4 < $\eta$ < 2.4, 0.1 < $x_F$ < 0.2, and 1.8 < $p_T$ < 7.0 GeV/$c$ in $p^{\uparrow}$+$p$, $p^{\uparrow}$+Al, and $p^{\uparrow}$+Au collisions.
$A_N$ as a function of $N^{Avg.}_{coll}$ for positively-charged hadrons at 1.4 < $\eta$ < 2.4, 0.1 < $x_F$ < 0.2, and 1.8 < $p_T$ < 7.0 GeV/$c$ in $p^{\uparrow}$+$p$, $p^{\uparrow}$+Al, and $p^{\uparrow}$+Au collisions.
We present the first measurements of long-range angular correlations and the transverse momentum dependence of elliptic flow $v_2$ in high-multiplicity $p$$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV. A comparison of these results with previous measurements in high-multiplicity $d$$+$Au and $^3{\rm He}$$+$Au collisions demonstrates a relation between $v_2$ and the initial collision eccentricity $\varepsilon_2$, suggesting that the observed momentum-space azimuthal anisotropies in these small systems have a collective origin and reflect the initial geometry. Good agreement is observed between the measured $v_2$ and hydrodynamic calculations for all systems, and an argument disfavoring theoretical explanations based on momentum-space domain correlations is presented. The set of measurements presented here allows us to leverage the distinct intrinsic geometry of each of these systems to distinguish between different theoretical descriptions of the long-range correlations observed in small collision systems.
The ratio of the two harmonics ($\Sigma Q^{BBC-S}$)$_{p+p}$/($\Sigma Q^{BBC-S}$)$_{pAu}$.
$v_2$ of charged hadrons within $|\eta|$ < 0.35 in 0-5% $p$+Au central collisions, compared to hydrodynamic calculations using the SONIC model, matched to the same multiplicity as the data.
The PHENIX Collaboration has measured the ratio of the yields of $\psi(2S)$ to $\psi(1S)$ mesons produced in $p$$+$$p$, $p$$+$Al, $p$$+$Au, and $^{3}$He$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV over the forward and backward rapidity intervals $1.2<|y|<2.2$. We find that the ratio in $p$$+$$p$ collisions is consistent with measurements at other collision energies. In collisions with nuclei, we find that in the forward ($p$-going or $^{3}$He-going) direction, the relative yield of $\psi(2S)$ mesons to $\psi(1S)$ mesons is consistent with the value measured in \pp collisions. However, in the backward (nucleus-going) direction, the $\psi(2S)$ is preferentially suppressed by a factor of $\sim$2. This suppression is attributed in some models to breakup of the weakly-bound $\psi(2S)$ through final state interactions with comoving particles, which have a higher density in the nucleus-going direction. These breakup effects may compete with color screening in a deconfined quark-gluon plasma to produce sequential suppression of excited quarkonia states.
Summary of the measured ratios of $\Psi$(2S)/$\Psi$(1S) mesons.
Summary of the measured ratios of $\Psi$(2S)/$\Psi$(1S) mesons.
Summary of the measured ratios of $\Psi$(2S)/$\Psi$(1S) mesons.
The PHENIX experiment has studied nuclear effects in $p$$+$Al and $p$$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV on charged hadron production at forward rapidity ($1.4<\eta<2.4$, $p$-going direction) and backward rapidity ($-2.2<\eta<-1.2$, $A$-going direction). Such effects are quantified by measuring nuclear modification factors as a function of transverse momentum and pseudorapidity in various collision multiplicity selections. In central $p$$+$Al and $p$$+$Au collisions, a suppression (enhancement) is observed at forward (backward) rapidity compared to the binary scaled yields in $p$+$p$ collisions. The magnitude of enhancement at backward rapidity is larger in $p$$+$Au collisions than in $p$$+$Al collisions, which have a smaller number of participating nucleons. However, the results at forward rapidity show a similar suppression within uncertainties. The results in the integrated centrality are compared with calculations using nuclear parton distribution functions, which show a reasonable agreement at the forward rapidity but fail to describe the backward rapidity enhancement.
RpA of charged hadrons as a function of pT at forward and backward rapidity in p+Al 0%-100% centrality.
RpA of charged hadrons as a function of pT at forward and backward rapidity in p+Au 0%-100% centrality.
RpA of charged hadrons as a function of eta at forward and backward rapidity in p+Al and p+Au 0%-100% centrality.
In 2015, the PHENIX collaboration has measured very forward ($\eta>6.8$) single-spin asymmetries of inclusive neutrons in transversely polarized proton-proton and proton-nucleus collisions at a center of mass energy of 200 GeV. A previous publication from this data set concentrated on the nuclear dependence of such asymmetries. In this measurement the explicit transverse-momentum dependence of inclusive neutron single spin asymmetries for proton-proton collisions is extracted using a bootstrapping-unfolding technique on the transverse momenta. This explicit transverse-momentum dependence will help improve the understanding of the mechanisms that create these asymmetries.
Measured and unfolded forward neutron single spin asymmetries using 3rd order polynomial parameterization in unfolding
Measured and unfolded forward neutron single spin asymmetries using a Power law parameterization in unfolding
Measured and unfolded forward neutron single spin asymmetries using an exponential parameterization in unfolding
We present a measurement of the transverse single-spin asymmetry for $\pi^0$ and $\eta$ mesons in $p^\uparrow$ $+$ $p$ collisions in the pseudorapidity range $|\eta|<0.35$ and at a center-of-mass energy of 200 GeV with the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. In comparison with previous measurements in this kinematic region, these results have a factor of 3 smaller uncertainties. As hadrons, $\pi^0$ and $\eta$ mesons are sensitive to both initial- and final-state nonperturbative effects for a mix of parton flavors. Comparisons of the differences in their transverse single-spin asymmetries have the potential to disentangle the possible effects of strangeness, isospin, or mass. These results can constrain the twist-3 trigluon collinear correlation function as well as the gluon Sivers function.
Data from Figs. 2, 4, and 5 of the transverse single-spin asymmetry of neutral pions measured at $|\eta|<0.35$ in $p^\uparrow$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 200$ GeV. An additional scale uncertainty of 3.4\% due to the polarization uncertainty is not shown. The total $\sigma_{\rm syst}$ in the lowest $p_T$ bin includes an additional systematic uncertainty of $1.06\times10^{-4}$ from bunch shuffling.
Data from Figs. 3 and 4 of the transverse single-spin asymmetry of eta mesons measured at $|\eta|<0.35$ in $p^\uparrow$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 200$ GeV. An additional scale uncertainty of 3.4\% due to the polarization uncertainty is not shown. The total $\sigma_{\rm syst}$ in the lowest $p_T$ bin includes an additional systematic uncertainty of $6.20\times10^{-4}$ from bunch shuffling.
Suppression of the $J/\psi$ nuclear-modification factor has been seen as a trademark signature of final-state effects in large collision systems for decades. In small systems, the nuclear modification was attributed to cold-nuclear-matter effects until the observation of strong differential suppression of the $\psi(2S)$ state in $p/d$ $+$ $A$ collisions suggested the presence of final-state effects. Results of $J/\psi$ and $\psi(2S)$ measurements in the dimuon decay channel are presented here for $p$ $+$ $p$, $p$ $+$Al, and $p$ $+$Au collision systems at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV. The results are predominantly shown in the form of the nuclear-modification factor, $R_{pA}$, the ratio of the $\psi(2S)$ invariant yield per nucleon-nucleon collision in collisions of proton on target nucleus to that in $p$ $+$ $p$ collisions. Measurements of the $J/\psi$ and $\psi(2S)$ nuclear-modification factor are compared with shadowing and transport-model predictions, as well as to complementary measurements at Large-Hadron-Collider energies.
PSI(2S)-->MU+MU- invariant yields in p+p, p+Al, and p+Au collisions as a function of rapidity. The statistical and systematic uncertainties vary point-to-point and are listed for each measured value. An additional global systematic uncertainty is provided in each column heading, which applies to all data points per column.
J/PSI(1S)-->MU+MU- invariant yields in p+p, p+Al, and p+Au collisions as a function of rapidity. The statistical and systematic uncertainties vary point-to-point and are listed for each measured value. An additional global systematic uncertainty is provided in each column heading, which applies to all data points per column.
PSI(2S)-->MU+MU- nuclear modification in p+Al collisions as a function of rapidity. The statistical and systematic uncertainties vary point-to-point and are listed for each measured value. An additional global systematic uncertainty is provided in each column heading, which applies to all data points per column.
In 2015 the PHENIX collaboration at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider recorded $p+p$, $p+$Al, and $p+$Au collision data at center of mass energies of $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV with the proton beam(s) transversely polarized. At very forward rapidities $\eta>6.8$ relative to the polarized proton beam, neutrons were detected either inclusively or in (anti)correlation with detector activity related to hard collisions. The resulting single spin asymmetries, that were previously reported, have now been extracted as a function of the transverse momentum of the neutron as well as its longitudinal momentum fraction $x_F$. The explicit kinematic dependence, combined with the correlation information allows for a closer look at the interplay of different mechanisms suggested to describe these asymmetries, such as hadronic interactions or electromagnetic interactions in ultra-peripheral collisions, UPC. Events that are correlated with a hard collision indeed display a mostly negative asymmetry that increases in magnitude as a function of transverse momentum with only little dependence on $x_F$. In contrast, events that are not likely to have emerged from a hard collision display positive asymmetries for the nuclear collisions with a kinematic dependence that resembles that of a UPC based model. Because the UPC interaction depends strongly on the charge of the nucleus, those effects are very small for $p+p$ collisions, moderate for $p+$Al collisions, and large for $p+$Au collisions.
Measured forward neutron single spin asymmetries in p+p collisions as a function of pT in bins of xF
Measured forward neutron single spin asymmetries in p+Al collisions as a function of pT in bins of xF
Measured forward neutron single spin asymmetries in p+Au collisions as a function of pT in bins of xF
Dihadron and isolated direct photon-hadron angular correlations are measured in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV. The correlations are sensitive to nonperturbative initial-state and final-state transverse momentum $k_T$ and $j_T$ in the azimuthal nearly back-to-back region $\Delta\phi\sim\pi$. In this region, transverse-momentum-dependent evolution can be studied when several different hard scales are measured. To have sensitivity to small transverse momentum scales, nonperturbative momentum widths of $p_{\rm out}$, the out-of-plane transverse momentum component perpendicular to the trigger particle, are measured. These widths are used to investigate possible effects from transverse-momentum-dependent factorization breaking. When accounting for the longitudinal momentum fraction of the away-side hadron with respect to the near-side trigger particle, the widths are found to increase with the hard scale; this is qualitatively similar to the observed behavior in Drell-Yan and semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering interactions. The momentum widths are also studied as a function of center-of-mass energy by comparing to previous measurements at $\sqrt{s}=510$ GeV. The nonperturbative jet widths also appear to increase with $\sqrt{s}$ at a similar $x_T$, which is qualitatively consistent to similar measurements in Drell-Yan interactions. To quantify the magnitude of any transverse-momentum-dependent factorization breaking effects, calculations will need to be performed to compare to these measurements.
The per-trigger yields are shown as a function of $\Delta\phi$ in several $p_T^{trig}$ $\otimes$ $p_T^{assoc}$ bins.
The per-trigger yields are shown as a function of $\Delta\phi$ in several $p_T^{trig}$ $\otimes$ $p_T^{assoc}$ bins.
The per-trigger yields are shown as a function of $\Delta\phi$ in several $p_T^{trig}$ $\otimes$ $p_T^{assoc}$ bins.
PHENIX reports differential cross sections of $\mu\mu$ pairs from semileptonic heavy-flavor decays and the Drell-Yan production mechanism measured in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV at forward and backward rapidity ($1.2<|\eta|<2.2$). The $\mu\mu$ pairs from $c\bar{c}$, $b\bar{b}$, and Drell-Yan are separated using a simultaneous fit to unlike- and like-sign muon pair spectra in mass and $p_T$. The azimuthal opening angle correlation between the muons from $c\bar{c}$ and $b\bar{b}$ decays and the pair-$p_T$ distributions are compared to distributions generated using {\sc pythia} and {\sc powheg} models, which both include next-to-leading order processes. The measured distributions for pairs from $c\bar{c}$ are consistent with {\sc pythia} calculations. The $c\bar{c}$ data presents narrower azimuthal correlations and softer $p_T$ distributions compared to distributions generated from {\sc powheg}. The $b\bar{b}$ data are well described by both models. The extrapolated total cross section for bottom production is $3.75{\pm}0.24({\rm stat}){\pm}^{0.35}_{0.50}({\rm syst}){\pm}0.45({\rm global})$[$\mu$b], which is consistent with previous measurements at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider in the same system at the same collision energy, and is approximately a factor of two higher than the central value calculated with theoretical models. The measured Drell-Yan cross section is in good agreement with next-to-leading-order quantum-chromodynamics calculations.
Inclusive $\mu^+ \mu^-$ pair mass distributions from $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV over the mass range from 0 to 15 GeV/$c^2$. Results are shown separately for the south and north muon arms. The data are compared to the cocktail of expected sources.
Inclusive like-sign $\mu \mu$ pair yield from $p$+$p$ collisions as a function of mass for the south and north muon arms and the ratio of data to expected sources.
Inclusive unlike-sign $\mu \mu$ pair yield from $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV as a function of mass in different $p_T$ slices for the south and north muon arms and the ratio of data to expected sources.
Forum