In ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions at the LHC, each nucleus acts a sources of high-energy real photons that can scatter off the opposing nucleus in ultra-peripheral photonuclear ($\gamma+A$) collisions. Hard scattering processes initiated by the photons in such collisions provide a novel method for probing nuclear parton distributions in a kinematic region not easily accessible to other measurements. ATLAS has measured production of dijet and multi-jet final states in ultra-peripheral Pb+Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\text{NN}}} = 5.02$ TeV using a data set recorded in 2018 with an integrated luminosity of 1.72 $\text{nb}^{-1}$. Photonuclear final states are selected by requiring a rapidity gap in the photon direction; this selects events where one of the outgoing nuclei remains intact. Jets are reconstructed using the anti-$k_\text{t}$ algorithm with radius parameter, $R = 0.4$. Triple-differential cross-sections, unfolded for detector response, are measured and presented using two sets of kinematic variables. The first set consists of the total transverse momentum ($H_\text{T}$),rapidity, and mass of the jet system. The second set uses $H_\text{T}$ and particle-level nuclear and photon parton momentum fractions, $x_\text{A}$ and $z_{\gamma}$, respectively. The results are compared with leading-order (LO) perturbative QCD calculations of photonuclear jet production cross-sections, where all LO predictions using existing fits fall below the data in the shadowing region. More detailed theoretical comparisons will allow these results to strongly constrain nuclear parton distributions, and these data provide results from the LHC directly comparable to early physics results at the planned Electron-Ion Collider.
The fraction of photonuclear jet events passing the fiducial requirements in which the photon-emitting nucleus does not break up as a function of \zg. The systematic uncertainties are not symmetrized, and correlations in uncertainties are neglected for both the total systematic uncertainty and statistical uncertainty.
Fully unfolded triple-differential cross-sections as a function of $H_\text{T}$, $y_\text{jets}$, and $m_\text{jets}$. Systematic uncertainties are decomposed into symmetrized nuisance parameters, where parameters labelled "Corr" are fully correlated bin-to-bin, while parameters labelled "Uncorr" should be treated as un-correlated bin-to-bin. These cross-sections are not corrected for the effects of additional nuclear break-up. Values for the total fiducial cross-section in each bin are reported with full statistical and systematic uncertainties. Fractions of the total bin volume occupied by the fiducial region, fractions of the total cross-section in that bin satisfying fiducial requirements, and mean bin values for each axis variable are derived from Pythia 8 Monte Carlo and reported as well. For more details on these quantities, see Appendix B.
Fully unfolded triple-differential cross-sections as a function of $H_\text{T}$, $x_\text{A}$, and $z_{\gamma}$. Systematic uncertainties are decomposed into symmetrized nuisance parameters, where parameters labelled "Corr" are fully correlated bin-to-bin, while parameters labelled "Uncorr" should be treated as un-correlated bin-to-bin. These cross-sections are not corrected for the effects of additional nuclear break-up. Values for the total fiducial cross-section in each bin are reported with full statistical and systematic uncertainties. Fractions of the total bin volume occupied by the fiducial region, fractions of the total cross-section in that bin satisfying fiducial requirements, and mean bin values for each axis variable are derived from Pythia 8 Monte Carlo and reported as well. For more details on these quantities, see Appendix B.
This Letter presents a search for highly ionizing magnetic monopoles in 262$~\mu$b$^{-1}$ of ultraperipheral Pb+Pb collision data at $\sqrt{s_{_\textrm{NN}}}=5.36$ TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. A new methodology that exploits the properties of clusters of hits reconstructed in the innermost silicon detector layers is introduced to study highly ionizing particles in heavy-ion data. No significant excess above the background, which is estimated using a data-driven technique, is observed. Using a nonperturbative semiclassical model, upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the cross-section for pair production of monopoles with a single Dirac magnetic charge in the mass range of 20-150 GeV. The search significantly improves on the previous cross-section limits for production of low-mass monopoles in ultraperipheral Pb+Pb collisions.
Expected and observed cross-section upper limits computed using the CL$_{s}$ method for $|q_{m}| = 1 g_{\textrm{D}}$ and assuming FPA model
We report the differential yields at mid-rapidity of the Breit-Wheeler process ($\gamma\gamma\rightarrow e^{+}e^{-}$) in peripheral Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm{NN}}}} = $ 54.4 GeV and 200 GeV with the STAR experiment at RHIC, as a function of energy $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm{NN}}}}$, $e^{+}e^{-}$ transverse momentum $p_{\rm T}$, $p_{\rm T}^{2}$, invariant mass $M_{ee}$ and azimuthal angle. In the invariant mass range of 0.4 $<$$M_{ee}$$<$ 2.6 GeV/$c^{2}$ at low transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$$ < $0.15 GeV/$c$), the yields increase while the pair $\sqrt{\langle p_{\rm T}^{2} \rangle}$ decreases with increasing $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm{NN}}}}$, a feature is correctly predicted by the QED calculation. The energy dependencies of the measured quantities are sensitive to the nuclear form factor, infrared divergence and photon polarization. The data are compiled and used to extract the charge radius of the Au nucleus.
'54.4 GeV, Centrality: 40-60%'
'54.4 GeV, Centrality: 60-80%'
'54.4 GeV, Centrality: 80-100%'
We report multi-differential measurements of strange hadron production ranging from mid- to target-rapidity in Au+Au collisions at a center-of-momentum energy per nucleon pair of $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=3$ GeV with the STAR experiment at RHIC. $K^0_S$ meson and $\Lambda$ hyperon yields are measured via their weak decay channels. Collision centrality and rapidity dependences of the transverse momentum spectra and particle ratios are presented. Particle mass and centrality dependence of the average transverse momenta of $\Lambda$ and $K^0_S$ are compared with other strange particles, providing evidence of the development of hadronic rescattering in such collisions. The 4$\pi$ yields of each of these strange hadrons show a consistent centrality dependence. Discussions on radial flow, the strange hadron production mechanism, and properties of the medium created in such collisions are presented together with results from hadronic transport and thermal model calculations.
dN/dy of lambda for different centrality bins.
dN/dy of Ks0 for different centrality bins.
Rapidity dependence of Lambda/p for different centrality bins.
High-energy nuclear collisions create a quark-gluon plasma, whose initial condition and subsequent expansion vary from event to event, impacting the distribution of the event-wise average transverse momentum ($P([p_{\mathrm{T}}])$). Distinguishing between contributions from fluctuations in the size of the nuclear overlap area (geometrical component) and other sources at fixed size (intrinsic component) presents a challenge. Here, these two components are distinguished by measuring the mean, variance, and skewness of $P([p_{\mathrm{T}}])$ in $^{208}$Pb+$^{208}$Pb and $^{129}$Xe+$^{129}$Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{{\mathrm{NN}}}} = 5.02$ and 5.44 TeV, respectively, using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. All observables show distinct changes in behavior in ultra-central collisions, where the geometrical variations are suppressed as the overlap area reaches its maximum. These results demonstrate a new technique to disentangle geometrical and intrinsic fluctuations, enabling constraints on initial condition and properties of the quark-gluon plasma, such as the speed of sound.
Data from Figure 1, panel a, $\left\langle[p_{T}]\right\rangle$ vs $N_{ch}$ for Pb+Pb collisions, 0.5 $ <p_{T}< $ 5 GeV/c, $|\eta|< $ 2.5
Data from Figure 1, panel b, $\left\langle[p_{T}]\right\rangle$ vs $N_{ch}$ for Pb+Pb collisions, 0.5 $ <p_{T}< $ 5 GeV/c, $|\eta|< $ 2.5
Data from Figure 1, panel b, $\left\langle[p_{T}]\right\rangle$ vs $N_{ch}$ for Xe+Xe collisions, 0.5 $ <p_{T}< $ 5 GeV/c, $|\eta|< $ 2.5
This paper reports the observation of top-quark pair production in proton-lead collisions in the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. The measurement is performed using 165 nb$^{-1}$ of $p$+Pb data collected at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}=8.16$ TeV in 2016. Events are categorised in two analysis channels, consisting of either events with exactly one lepton (electron or muon) and at least four jets, or events with two opposite-charge leptons and at least two jets. In both channels at least one $b$-tagged jet is also required. Top-quark pair production is observed with a significance over five standard deviations in each channel. The top-quark pair production cross-section is measured to be $\sigma_{t\bar{t}}= 58.1\pm 2.0\;\mathrm{(stat.)\;^{+4.8}_{-4.4} \;\mathrm{(syst.)}}\;\mathrm{nb}$, with a total uncertainty of 9%. In addition, the nuclear modification factor is measured to be $R_{p\mathrm{A}} = 1.090\pm0.039\;(\mathrm{stat.})\;^{+0.094}_{-0.087}\;(\mathrm{syst.})$. The measurements are found to be in good agreement with theory predictions involving nuclear parton distribution functions.
The figure shows the pre-fit distribution of events as a function of $H_{\mathrm{T}}^{\ell,j} = \sum_{\ell,j} p_{T}^{\ell,j}$, scalar sum of $p_T$ for all jets and leptons in the $\ell+$jets channel, in proton-lead (p+Pb) collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}} = 8.16$ TeV, with an integrated luminosity of 165 nb$^{-1}$. The data correspond to the $1\ell 1b$ $e$+jets channel in a pre-fit configuration. The stacked histograms represent different processes contributing to the event yield, including top quark pair production ($t\bar{t}$), single top, $W$ boson production with $b$, $c$, and light quarks, $Z$ boson production with $b$, $c$, and light quarks, diboson, and fake lepton backgrounds.
The figure shows the post-fit distribution of events as a function of $H_{\mathrm{T}}^{\ell,j} = \sum_{\ell,j} p_{T}^{\ell,j}$, scalar sum of $p_T$ for all jets and leptons in the $\ell+$jets channel, in proton-lead (p+Pb) collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}} = 8.16$ TeV, with an integrated luminosity of 165 nb$^{-1}$. The data correspond to the $1\ell 1b$ $e$+jets channel in a pre-fit configuration. The stacked histograms represent different processes contributing to the event yield, including top quark pair production ($t\bar{t}$), single top, $W$ boson production with $b$, $c$, and light quarks, $Z$ boson production with $b$, $c$, and light quarks, diboson, and fake lepton backgrounds.
The figure shows the pre-fit distribution of events as a function of $H_{\mathrm{T}}^{\ell,j} = \sum_{\ell,j} p_{T}^{\ell,j}$, scalar sum of $p_T$ for all jets and leptons in the $\ell+$jets channel, in proton-lead (p+Pb) collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}} = 8.16$ TeV, with an integrated luminosity of 165 nb$^{-1}$. The data correspond to the $1\ell 1b$ $\mu$+jets channel in a pre-fit configuration. The stacked histograms represent different processes contributing to the event yield, including top quark pair production ($t\bar{t}$), single top, $W$ boson production with $b$, $c$, and light quarks, $Z$ boson production with $b$, $c$, and light quarks, diboson, and fake lepton backgrounds.
Atomic nuclei are self-organized, many-body quantum systems bound by strong nuclear forces within femtometer-scale space. These complex systems manifest a variety of shapes, traditionally explored using non-invasive spectroscopic techniques at low energies. However, at these energies, their instantaneous shapes are obscured by long-timescale quantum fluctuations, making direct observation challenging. Here we introduce the ``collective flow assisted nuclear shape imaging'' method, which images the nuclear global shape by colliding them at ultrarelativistic speeds and analyzing the collective response of outgoing debris. This technique captures a collision-specific snapshot of the spatial matter distribution within the nuclei, which, through the hydrodynamic expansion, imprints patterns on the particle momentum distribution observed in detectors. We benchmark this method in collisions of ground state Uranium-238 nuclei, known for their elongated, axial-symmetric shape. Our findings show a large deformation with a slight deviation from axial symmetry in the nuclear ground state, aligning broadly with previous low-energy experiments. This approach offers a new method for imaging nuclear shapes, enhances our understanding of the initial conditions in high-energy collisions and addresses the important issue of nuclear structure evolution across energy scales.
Data from Figure 2, panel a, Au+Au, 0-0.5% Centrality, 0.2<p_{T}<3 GeV/c, systematics include non-flow difference in the two systems, but correlated non-flow systematics with the value of $\delta \left\langle v_{2}^{2}\right\rangle$ =+-3.2e-5 included
Data from Figure 2, panel a, U+U, 0-0.5% Centrality, 0.2<p_{T}<3 GeV/c, systematics include non-flow difference in the two systems, but correlated non-flow systematics with the value of $\delta \left\langle v_{2}^{2}\right\rangle$ =+-3.2e-5 included
Data from Figure 2, panel b, Au+Au, 0-0.5% Centrality, 0.2<p_{T}<3 GeV/c
For the search of the chiral magnetic effect (CME), STAR previously presented the results from isobar collisions (${^{96}_{44}\text{Ru}}+{^{96}_{44}\text{Ru}}$, ${^{96}_{40}\text{Zr}}+{^{96}_{40}\text{Zr}}$) obtained through a blind analysis. The ratio of results in Ru+Ru to Zr+Zr collisions for the CME-sensitive charge-dependent azimuthal correlator ($\Delta\gamma$), normalized by elliptic anisotropy ($v_{2}$), was observed to be close to but systematically larger than the inverse multiplicity ratio. The background baseline for the isobar ratio, $Y = \frac{(\Delta\gamma/v_{2})^{\text{Ru}}}{(\Delta\gamma/v_{2})^{\text{Zr}}}$, is naively expected to be $\frac{(1/N)^{\text{Ru}}}{(1/N)^{\text{Zr}}}$; however, genuine two- and three-particle correlations are expected to alter it. We estimate the contributions to $Y$ from those correlations, utilizing both the isobar data and HIJING simulations. After including those contributions, we arrive at a final background baseline for $Y$, which is consistent with the isobar data. We extract an upper limit for the CME fraction in the $\Delta\gamma$ measurement of approximately $10\%$ at a $95\%$ confidence level on in isobar collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\text{NN}}} = 200$ GeV, with an expected $15\%$ difference in their squared magnetic fields.
Figure 1a, upper panel, full-event
Figure 1a, lower panel, full-event
Figure 1b, upper panel, subevent
We report results on an elastic cross section measurement in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}=510$ GeV, obtained with the Roman Pot setup of the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The elastic differential cross section is measured in the four-momentum transfer squared range $0.23 \leq -t \leq 0.67$ GeV$^2$. We find that a constant slope $B$ does not fit the data in the aforementioned $t$ range, and we obtain a much better fit using a second-order polynomial for $B(t)$. The $t$ dependence of $B$ is determined using six subintervals of $t$ in the STAR measured $t$ range, and is in good agreement with the phenomenological models. The measured elastic differential cross section $\mathrm{d}\sigma/\mathrm{dt}$ agrees well with the results obtained at $\sqrt{s} = 546$ GeV for proton--antiproton collisions by the UA4 experiment. We also determine that the integrated elastic cross section within the STAR $t$-range is $\sigma^\mathrm{fid}_\mathrm{el} = 462.1 \pm 0.9 (\mathrm{stat.}) \pm 1.1 (\mathrm {syst.}) \pm 11.6 (\mathrm {scale})$~$\mu\mathrm{b}$.
Top panel: The $pp$ elastic differential cross section $d\sigma/dt$ fitted with an exponential $A e^{-B(t)|t|}$. Bottom panel: Residuals (Data - Fit)/Error. Uncertainties on the data points are smaller than the symbol size. The vertical scale uncertainty of 2.5% is not included in in the full error.
Results of the exponential function $A e^{-B(t)|t|}$ fit to the elastic differential cross section data as well as the integrated fiducial cross section are listed. Also listed are the corresponding values of the statistical and systematic uncertainties. The scale (luminosity and trigger efficiency) uncertainty of 2.5% applicable to the fit parameter $A$ and fiducial cross section $\sigma^\mathrm{fid}_\mathrm{el}$ is not included in the full error.
The chiral magnetic effect (CME) is a phenomenon that arises from the QCD anomaly in the presence of an external magnetic field. The experimental search for its evidence has been one of the key goals of the physics program of the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider. The STAR collaboration has previously presented the results of a blind analysis of isobar collisions (${^{96}_{44}\text{Ru}}+{^{96}_{44}\text{Ru}}$, ${^{96}_{40}\text{Zr}}+{^{96}_{40}\text{Zr}}$) in the search for the CME. The isobar ratio ($Y$) of CME-sensitive observable, charge separation scaled by elliptic anisotropy, is close to but systematically larger than the inverse multiplicity ratio, the naive background baseline. This indicates the potential existence of a CME signal and the presence of remaining nonflow background due to two- and three-particle correlations, which are different between the isobars. In this post-blind analysis, we estimate the contributions from those nonflow correlations as a background baseline to $Y$, utilizing the isobar data as well as Heavy Ion Jet Interaction Generator simulations. This baseline is found consistent with the isobar ratio measurement, and an upper limit of 10% at 95% confidence level is extracted for the CME fraction in the charge separation measurement in isobar collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=200$ GeV.
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
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