We present the first measurements of identified hadron production, azimuthal anisotropy, and pion interferometry from Au+Au collisions below the nominal injection energy at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC) facility. The data were collected using the large acceptance STAR detector at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 9.2 GeV from a test run of the collider in the year 2008. Midrapidity results on multiplicity density (dN/dy) in rapidity (y), average transverse momentum (<pT>), particle ratios, elliptic flow, and HBT radii are consistent with the corresponding results at similar $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ from fixed target experiments. Directed flow measurements are presented for both midrapidity and forward rapidity regions. Furthermore the collision centrality dependence of identified particle dN/dy, <pT>, and particle ratios are discussed. These results also demonstrate the readiness of the STAR detector to undertake the proposed QCD critical point search and the exploration of the QCD phase diagram at RHIC.
Second order event plane resolution measured in the TPC as a function of collision centrality for.
Efficiency × acceptance for reconstructed pions, kaons, and protons in the TPC as a function of p_T at midrapidity.
Percentage of pion background contribution estimated from HIJING+GEANT as a function of p_T at midrapidity.
We present STAR measurements of the azimuthal anisotropy parameter $v_2$ and the binary-collision scaled centrality ratio $R_{CP}$ for kaons and lambdas ($\Lambda+\bar{\Lambda}$) at mid-rapidity in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV. In combination, the $v_2$ and $R_{CP}$ particle-type dependencies contradict expectations from partonic energy loss followed by standard fragmentation in vacuum. We establish $p_T \approx 5$ GeV/c as the value where the centrality dependent baryon enhancement ends. The $K_S^0$ and $\Lambda+\bar{\Lambda}$ $v_2$ values are consistent with expectations of constituent-quark-number scaling from models of hadron fromation by parton coalescence or recombination.
The minimum bias (0-80% of the collision cross-section) v2(pT) of K0s. Errors listed include statistical and point-to-point systematic uncertainties from the background. Additional non-flow systematic uncertainties are approximately -20%.
The minimum bias (0-80% of the collision cross-section) v2(pT) of Lambda+Lambdabar. Errors listed include statistical and point-to-point systematic uncertainties from the background. Additional non-flow systematic uncertainties are approximately -20%.
The minimum bias (0-80% of the collision cross-section) v2(pT) of charged hadrons. Errors listed include statistical and point-to-point systematic uncertainties from the background. Additional non-flow systematic uncertainties are approximately -20%.
We report first results on elliptic flow of identified particles at mid-rapidity in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=130$ GeV using the STAR TPC at RHIC. The elliptic flow as a function of transverse momentum and centrality differs significantly for particles of different masses. This dependence can be accounted for in hydrodynamic models, indicating that the system created shows a behavior consistent with collective hydrodynamical flow. The fit to the data with a simple model gives information on the temperature and flow velocities at freeze-out.
Differential elliptic flow for pions for minimum-bias events, the systematic uncertainty for minimum-bias data is 13%.
Differential elliptic flow for protons + antiprotons for minimum-bias events, the systematic uncertainty for minimum-bias data is 13%.
Differential elliptic flow for kaons for minimum-bias events, the systematic uncertainty for minimum-bias data is 13%.
We present a systematic analysis of two-pion interferometry in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV using the STAR detector at RHIC. We extract the HBT radii and study their multiplicity, transverse momentum, and azimuthal angle dependence. The Gaussianess of the correlation function is studied. Estimates of the geometrical and dynamical structure of the freeze-out source are extracted by fits with blast wave parameterizations. The expansion of the source and its relation with the initial energy density distribution is studied.
1D correlation function for different values of SL (antisplitting cut).
1D correlation functions for differeny values of the maximum fraction of merged hits allowed.
Projections of the 3 dimensional correlation function and corresponding fits for negative pions from the 0-5% most central events and k_T = [150,250] MeV/c according to the standard and Bowler-Sinyukov procedures.
The results from the STAR Collaboration on directed flow (v_1), elliptic flow (v_2), and the fourth harmonic (v_4) in the anisotropic azimuthal distribution of particles from Au+Au collisions at sqrtsNN = 200 GeV are summarized and compared with results from other experiments and theoretical models. Results for identified particles are presented and fit with a Blast Wave model. Different anisotropic flow analysis methods are compared and nonflow effects are extracted from the data. For v_2, scaling with the number of constituent quarks and parton coalescence is discussed. For v_4, scaling with v_2^2 and quark coalescence is discussed.
Directed flow of charged hadrons v1{3} as a function of pseudorapidity for 10–70% centrality.
Directed flow of charged hadrons v1 {EP1,EP2} as a function of pseudorapidity for 20–60% centrality.
Charged hadron v2 for the centrality bins 5 to 10% and in steps of 10% starting at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 up to 80% along with min. bias as a function of p_T.
Elliptic flow from nuclear collisions is a hadronic observable sensitive to the early stages of system evolution. We report first results on elliptic flow of charged particles at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=130 GeV using the STAR TPC at RHIC. The elliptic flow signal, v_2, averaged over transverse momentum, reaches values of about 6% for relatively peripheral collisions and decreases for the more central collisions. This can be interpreted as the observation of a higher degree of thermalization than at lower collision energies. Pseudorapidity and transverse momentum dependence of elliptic flow are also presented.
Elliptic flow as a function of centrality defined as nch/nmax. Also given is epsilon, the initial space eccentricity of the overlap region, as well as the cumulative fraction of events starting with the most central. From the results of the study of non-flow contributions by different subevent selections and the maximum magnitudes of the first and higher-order harmonics, we estimate a systematic error for v2 of about 0.007, with somewhat smaller uncertainty for the mid-centralities where the resolution of the event plane is high.
Elliptic flow as a function of transverse momen-tum for minimum bias events
Charged-particle spectra associated with direct photon ($\gamma_{dir} $) and $\pi^0$ are measured in $p$+$p$ and Au+Au collisions at center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV with the STAR detector at RHIC. A hower-shape analysis is used to partially discriminate between $\gamma_{dir}$ and $\pi^0$. Assuming no associated charged particles in the $\gamma_{dir}$ direction (near side) and small contribution from fragmentation photons ($\gamma_{frag}$), the associated charged-particle yields opposite to $\gamma_{dir}$ (away side) are extracted. At mid-rapidity ($|\eta|<0.9$) in central Au+Au collisions, charged-particle yields associated with $\gamma_{dir}$ and $\pi^0$ at high transverse momentum ($8< p_{T}^{trig}<16$ GeV/$c$) are suppressed by a factor of 3-5 compared with $p$ + $p$ collisions. The observed suppression of the associated charged particles, in the kinematic range $|\eta|<1$ and $3< p_{T}^{assoc} < 16$ GeV/$c$, is similar for $\gamma_{dir}$ and $\pi^0$, and independent of the $\gamma_{dir}$ energy within uncertainties. These measurements indicate that the parton energy loss, in the covered kinematic range, is insensitive to the parton path length.
The $z_{T}$ dependence of $\pi^{0}-h^{\pm}$ near side and away-side associated particle yields. The errors denoted 'syst' are systematic errors correlated in $z_{T}$. The errors denoted 'syst uncorr' are point-to-point systematic errors.
The $z_{T}$ dependence of away-side associated-particle yields for $\pi^{0}-h^{\pm}$ triggers and $\gamma_{dir}$ triggers. The errors denoted 'syst' are systematic errors correlated in $z_{T}$. The errors denoted 'syst uncorr' are point-to-point systematic errors.
The $z_{T}$ dependence $I_{AA}$ for $\pi^{0}-h^{\pm}$ triggers and $\gamma_{dir}$ triggers. The errors denoted 'syst' are systematic errors correlated in $z_{T}$. The errors denoted 'syst uncorr' are point-to-point systematic errors.
The STAR Collaboration reports on the photoproduction of $\pi^+\pi^-$ pairs in gold-gold collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 200 GeV/nucleon-pair. These pion pairs are produced when a nearly-real photon emitted by one ion scatters from the other ion. We fit the $\pi^+\pi^-$ invariant mass spectrum with a combination of $\rho$ and $\omega$ resonances and a direct $\pi^+\pi^-$ continuum. This is the first observation of the $\omega$ in ultra-peripheral collisions, and the first measurement of $\rho-\omega$ interference at energies where photoproduction is dominated by Pomeron exchange. The $\omega$ amplitude is consistent with the measured $\gamma p\rightarrow \omega p$ cross section, a classical Glauber calculation and the $\omega\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-$ branching ratio. The $\omega$ phase angle is similar to that observed at much lower energies, showing that the $\rho-\omega$ phase difference does not depend significantly on photon energy. The $\rho^0$ differential cross section $d\sigma/dt$ exhibits a clear diffraction pattern, compatible with scattering from a gold nucleus, with 2 minima visible. The positions of the diffractive minima agree better with the predictions of a quantum Glauber calculation that does not include nuclear shadowing than with a calculation that does include shadowing.
The $\pi^+\pi^-$ invariant-mass distribution for all selected $\pi\pi$ candidates with $p_T~<~100~\textrm{MeV}/c$.
The ratio $|B/A|$ of amplitudes of nonresonant $\pi^+\pi^-$ and $\rho^0$ mesons in the present STAR analysis.
The ratio $|B/A|$ of amplitudes of nonresonant $\pi^+\pi^-$ and $\rho^0$ mesons in the previous STAR analysis, Phys. Rev. C 77 034910 (2008).
Forward-backward multiplicity correlation strengths have been measured for the first time with the STAR detector for Au+Au and $\textit{p+p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. Strong short and long range correlations are seen in central (0-10%) Au+Au collisions. The magnitude of these correlations decrease with decreasing centrality until only short range correlations are observed in 40-50% Au+Au collisions. The results are in agreement with predictions from the Dual Parton and Color Glass Condensate models.
FB Correlation strength for Au+Au at different centralities and p+p reactions as a function of $\Delta\eta$.
Backward-forward dispersion, $D_{bf}^{2}$ and forward-forward dispersion $D_{bf}^{2}$ for Au+Au 0-10% centrality and p+p reactions as a function of $\Delta\eta$.
We present results on the system size dependence of high transverse momentum di-hadron correlations at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV as measured by STAR at RHIC. Measurements in d+Au, Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions reveal similar jet-like correlation yields at small angular separation ($\Delta\phi\sim0$, $\Delta\eta\sim0$) for all systems and centralities. Previous measurements have shown that the away-side yield is suppressed in heavy-ion collisions. We present measurements of the away-side suppression as a function of transverse momentum and centrality in Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions. The suppression is found to be similar in Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at a similar number of participants. The results are compared to theoretical calculations based on the parton quenching model and the modified fragmentation model. The observed differences between data and theory indicate that the correlated yields presented here will provide important constraints on medium density profile and energy loss model parameters.
Di-hadron correlations in $\Delta\phi$ for small $|\Delta\eta|$ ($|\Delta\eta|<0.7$) and large ($0.7<|\Delta\eta|<1.7$), scaled to match small $|\Delta\eta|$ at large $\Delta\phi$.
Subtracted distributions for di-hadron correlations in $\Delta\phi$ for small $|\Delta\eta|$ ($|\Delta\eta|<0.7$) minus large ($0.7<|\Delta\eta|<1.7$), scaled to match small $|\Delta\eta|$ at large $\Delta\phi$.
Subtracted distributions for di-hadron correlations in $\Delta\eta$.
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