We present STAR measurements of charged hadron production as a function of centrality in Au + Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 130 GeV. The measurements cover a phase space region of 0.2 < p_T < 6.0 GeV/c in transverse momentum and -1 < eta < 1 in pseudorapidity. Inclusive transverse momentum distributions of charged hadrons in the pseudorapidity region 0.5 < |eta| < 1 are reported and compared to our previously published results for |eta| < 0.5. No significant difference is seen for inclusive p_T distributions of charged hadrons in these two pseudorapidity bins. We measured dN/deta distributions and truncated mean p_T in a region of p_T > p_T^cut, and studied the results in the framework of participant and binary scaling. No clear evidence is observed for participant scaling of charged hadron yield in the measured p_T region. The relative importance of hard scattering process is investigated through binary scaling fraction of particle production.
Ratio of the number of participants Npart or the number of binary collisions Nbin determined from different models to that from Monte Carlo Glauber calculation.
Ratio of the number of participants Npart or the number of binary collisions Nbin determined from different models to that from Monte Carlo Glauber calculation.
Inclusive $p_{T}$ distributions of ($h^{+}$ + $h^{-}$)/2 within 0.5 $<|\eta|< 1$. The combined statistical and systematic errors are shown.
We present the first data on $e^+e^-$ pair production accompanied by nuclear breakup in ultra-peripheral gold-gold collisions at a center of mass energy of 200 GeV per nucleon pair. The nuclear breakup requirement selects events at small impact parameters, where higher-order corrections to the pair production cross section should be enhanced. We compare the pair kinematic distributions with two calculations: one based on the equivalent photon approximation, and the other using lowest-order quantum electrodynamics (QED): the latter includes the photon virtuality. The cross section, pair mass, rapidity and angular distributions are in good agreement with both calculations. The pair transverse momentum, $p_T$, spectrum agrees with the QED calculation, but not with the equivalent photon approach. We set limits on higher-order contributions to the cross section. The $e^+$ and $e^-$ $p_T$ spectra are similar, with no evidence for interference effects due to higher-order diagrams.
(a) The pair mass distribution, (b) pair $p){T}$ , (c) pair rapidity and (d) pair cos($\theta′$) distributions. The data (points) are compared with predictions from the EPA (solid histogram) and lowest-order QED (dashed histogram) calculations. The error bars include both statistical and systematic errors.
(a) The pair mass distribution, (b) pair $p){T}$ , (c) pair rapidity and (d) pair cos($\theta′$) distributions. The data (points) are compared with predictions from the EPA (solid histogram) and lowest-order QED (dashed histogram) calculations. The error bars include both statistical and systematic errors.
(a) The pair mass distribution, (b) pair $p){T}$ , (c) pair rapidity and (d) pair cos($\theta′$) distributions. The data (points) are compared with predictions from the EPA (solid histogram) and lowest-order QED (dashed histogram) calculations. The error bars include both statistical and systematic errors.
We present a measurement of the double longitudinal spin asymmetry in inclusive pi^0 production in polarized proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s)=200 GeV. The data were taken at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider with average beam polarizations of 26%. The measurements are the first of a program to study the longitudinal spin structure of the proton, using strongly interacting probes, at collider energies. The asymmetry is presented for transverse momenta 1-5 GeV/c at mid-rapidity, where next-to-leading order perturbative quantum chromodynamic (NLO pQCD) calculations describe the unpolarized cross section well. The observed asymmetry is small and is compared with a NLO pQCD calculation with a range of polarized gluon distributions.
Double spin asymmetry for the raw signal ($\pi^0 + BG$), for the background ($BG$) and for $\pi^0$ background corrected; single spin asymmetry for $\pi^0$ background corrected; for the four $p_T$ bins.
Single spin raw asymmetry normalized by the beam polarization, $\epsilon$/$P$, as a function of azimuthal angle $\phi$, for forward neutron production.
The measured double spin asymmetry $A^{\pi^0}_{LL}$ versus mean $p_T$ of $\pi^0$s in each bin. Not included in the figure/table: the correlated for all points scale systematic uncertainty of 65% (scales values and stat. uncertainties of points by the same factor).
We report the first inclusive photon measurements about mid-rapidity (|y|<0.5) from Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_{NN}) = 130 GeV at RHIC. Photon pair conversions were reconstructed from electron and positron tracks measured with the Time Projection Chamber (TPC) of the STAR experiment. With this method, an energy resolution of Delta(E)/E = 2% at 0.5 GeV has been achieved. Reconstructed photons have also been used to measure the transverse momentum (pt) spectra of pi0 mesons about mid-rapidity (|y|<1) via the pi0 -> photon photon decay channel. The fractional contribution of the pi0 -> photon photon decay to the inclusive photon spectrum decreases by 20% +/- 5% between pt = 1.65 GeV/c and pt = 2.4 GeV/c in the most central events, indicating that relative to pi0 -> photon photon decay the contribution of other photon sources is substantially increasing.
Data for the electron-positron invariant mass plots
dE/dx deviant distributions of positive daughters
Data for the number of reconstructed photon conversions as a function of conversion location plots
We present the results of a systematic study of the shape of the pion distribution in coordinate space at freeze-out in Au+Au collisions at RHIC using two-pion Hanbury Brown-Twiss (HBT) interferometry. Oscillations of the extracted HBT radii vs. emission angle indicate sources elongated perpendicular to the reaction plane. The results indicate that the pressure and expansion time of the collision system are not sufficient to completely quench its initial shape.
Squared HBT radii relative to the reaction plane angle for three centrality classes.
Squared HBT radii relative to the reaction plane angle for four kT (GeV/c) bins, 20-30% centrality events.
Fourier coefficients of azimuthal oscillations of HBT radii vs number of participating nucleons, for three kT (GeV/c) bins. Larger participant numbers correspond to more central collisions.
We present the first experimental results based on the jet boost algorithm, a technique to select unbiased samples of gluon jets in e+e- annihilations, i.e. gluon jets free of biases introduced by event selection or jet finding criteria. Our results are derived from hadronic Z0 decays observed with the OPAL detector at the LEP e+e- collider at CERN. First, we test the boost algorithm through studies with Herwig Monte Carlo events and find that it provides accurate measurements of the charged particle multiplicity distributions of unbiased gluon jets for jet energies larger than about 5 GeV, and of the jet particle energy spectra (fragmentation functions) for jet energies larger than about 14 GeV. Second, we apply the boost algorithm to our data to derive unbiased measurements of the gluon jet multiplicity distribution for energies between about 5 and 18 GeV, and of the gluon jet fragmentation function at 14 and 18 GeV. In conjunction with our earlier results at 40 GeV, we then test QCD calculations for the energy evolution of the distributions, specifically the mean and first two non-trivial normalized factorial moments of the multiplicity distribution, and the fragmentation function. The theoretical results are found to be in global agreement with the data, although the factorial moments are not well described for jet energies below about 14 GeV.
The charged particle multiplicity distribution of gluon jets, $n_{\rm gluon}^{\rm ch.}$, for $E_{\rm g}^*$$\,=\,$5.25, 5.98 and 6.98 GeV. The data have been corrected for detector acceptance and resolution, for event selection, and for gluon jet impurity.
The charged particle multiplicity distribution of gluon jets, $n_{\rm gluon}^{\rm ch.}$, for $E_{\rm g}^*$$\,=\,$8.43 and 10.92 GeV. The data have been corrected for detector acceptance and resolution, for event selection, and for gluon jet impurity.
The charged particle multiplicity distribution of gluon jets, $n_{\rm gluon}^{\rm ch.}$, for $E_{\rm g}^*$$\,=\,$14.24 and 17.72 GeV. The data have been corrected for detector acceptance and resolution, for event selection, and for gluon jet impurity.
We report the first observations of the first harmonic (directed flow, v_1), and the fourth harmonic (v_4), in the azimuthal distribution of particles with respect to the reaction plane in Au+Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). Both measurements were done taking advantage of the large elliptic flow (v_2) generated at RHIC. From the correlation of v_2 with v_1 it is determined that v_2 is positive, or {\it in-plane}. The integrated v_4 is about a factor of 10 smaller than v_2. For the sixth (v_6) and eighth (v_8) harmonics upper limits on the magnitudes are reported.
$v_1$ of charged particles as a function of pseudorapidity for 10-70% centrality. Non-flow systematic uncertainties are approximately 20%.
$v_2$ with respect to the second harmonic event plane as a function of $p_T$ for the minimum bias Au+Au collisions. Background from secondary particles is expected to be less than 15%. Non-flow systematic uncertainties are approximately 20%. Fluctuations in initial geometry can lead to an effect of about a factor of 1.2 to 1.5.
$v_4$ with respect to the second harmonic event plane as a function of $p_T$ for the minimum bias Au+Au collisions. Background from secondary particles is expected to be less than 15%. Non-flow systematic uncertainties are approximately 20%. Fluctuations in initial geometry can lead to an effect of about a factor of 1.2 to 1.5.
Measurements of the production of forward high-energy pi0 mesons from transversely polarized proton collisions at \sqrt{s}=200 GeV are reported. The cross section is generally consistent with next-to-leading order perturbative QCD calculations. The analyzing power is small at x_F below about 0.3, and becomes positive and large at higher x_F, similar to the trend in data at \sqrt{s}<=20 GeV. The analyzing power is in qualitative agreement with perturbative QCD model expectations. This is the first significant spin result seen for particles produced with p_T>1 GeV/c at a polarized proton collider.
Inclusive $\pi^{0}$ production cross section versus leading $\pi^{0}$ energy ($E_{\pi}$). The average transverse momentum ($\langle p_{T}\rangle$) is correlated with $E_{\pi}$, as the PFPD was at a fixed pseudorapidity ($\eta$). The inner error bars are statistical, and are smaller than the symbols for most points. The outer error bars combine these with the $E_{\pi}$-dependent systematic errors. The curves are NLO pQCD calculations evaluated at $\eta=3.8$ [29-31].
Analyzing powers versus Feynman $x$ ($x_{F}$). The average transverse momentum ($\langle p_{T}\rangle$) is correlated with $x_{F}$. The solid points are for identified $\pi^{0}$ mesons. The open points are for the total energy ($E_{\scriptsize{\mbox{tot}}}$), shifted by $x_{F}+0.01$. The inner error bars are statistical, and the outer combine these with the point-to-point systematic errors. The curves are from pQCD models evaluated at $p_{T}=1.5$ GeV/c [14-17]. The $A_{N}$ values are proportional to $A^{\scriptsize{\mbox{CNI}}}_{N}$, assumed to be 0.013 at 100 GeV.
Transverse mass and rapidity distributions for charged pions, charged kaons, protons and antiprotons are reported for sqrt{s_NN}=200 GeV pp and Au+Au collisions at RHIC. The transverse mass distributions are rapidity independent within |y|<0.5, consistent with a boost-invariant system in this rapidity interval. Spectral shapes and relative particle yields are similar in pp and peripheral Au+Au collisions and change smoothly to central Au+Au collisions. No centrality dependence was observed in the kaon and antiproton production rates relative to the pion production rate from medium-central to central collisions. Chemical and kinetic equilibrium model fits to our data reveal strong radial flow and relatively long duration from chemical to kinetic freeze-out in central Au+Au collisions. The chemical freeze-out temperature appears to be independent of initial conditions at RHIC energies.
invariant yield as function of transverse mass for $\pi^{\pm},K^{\pm}$ and inclusive $p$ and $\bar{p}$ at mid-rapidity ($|y|<0.1$) for pp (bottom) and Au+Au events from $70-80\%$ (second bottom) to the $0-5\%$ centrality bin (top). Statistical and point-to-point systematic errors have been added in quadrature. Additional correlated systematic error due to uncertainty in the normalization is estimated to be $5\%$. Open circles are for positive particles (all proton spectra are scaled by 0.8), and closed triangles are for negative particles. The curves shown (Bose-Einstein fits for $\pi^-$ and blast-wave model fits for $K^-$ and $\bar{p}$) are explained in the text.
invariant yield as function of transverse mass for $\pi^{\pm},K^{\pm}$ and inclusive $p$ and $\bar{p}$ at mid-rapidity ($|y|<0.1$) for pp (bottom) and Au+Au events from $70-80\%$ (second bottom) to the $0-5\%$ centrality bin (top). Statistical and point-to-point systematic errors have been added in quadrature. Additional correlated systematic error due to uncertainty in the normalization is estimated to be $5\%$. Open circles are for positive particles (all proton spectra are scaled by 0.8), and closed triangles are for negative particles. The curves shown (Bose-Einstein fits for $\pi^-$ and blast-wave model fits for $K^-$ and $\bar{p}$) are explained in the text.
invariant yield as function of transverse mass for $\pi^{\pm},K^{\pm}$ and inclusive $p$ and $\bar{p}$ at mid-rapidity ($|y|<0.1$) for pp (bottom) and Au+Au events from $70-80\%$ (second bottom) to the $0-5\%$ centrality bin (top). Statistical and point-to-point systematic errors have been added in quadrature. Additional correlated systematic error due to uncertainty in the normalization is estimated to be $5\%$. Open circles are for positive particles (all proton spectra are scaled by 0.8), and closed triangles are for negative particles. The curves shown (Bose-Einstein fits for $\pi^-$ and blast-wave model fits for $K^-$ and $\bar{p}$) are explained in the text.
Identified mid-rapidity particle spectra of $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, and $p(\bar{p})$ from 200 GeV p+p and d+Au collisions are reported. A time-of-flight detector based on multi-gap resistive plate chamber technology is used for particle identification. The particle-species dependence of the Cronin effect is observed to be significantly smaller than that at lower energies. The ratio of the nuclear modification factor ($R_{dAu}$) between protons $(p+\bar{p})$ and charged hadrons ($h$) in the transverse momentum range $1.2<{p_{T}}<3.0$ GeV/c is measured to be $1.19\pm0.05$(stat)$\pm0.03$(syst) in minimum-bias collisions and shows little centrality dependence. The yield ratio of $(p+\bar{p})/h$ in minimum-bias d+Au collisions is found to be a factor of 2 lower than that in Au+Au collisions, indicating that the Cronin effect alone is not enough to account for the relative baryon enhancement observed in heavy ion collisions at RHIC.
The invariant yields of $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, p and their anti-particles as a function of $p_{T}$ from d+Au and NSD p+p events at 200 GeV. The rapidity range was -0.5 $<$ y $<$ 0.0 with the direction of the outgoing Au ions as negative rapidity. Errors are statistical.
The invariant yields of $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, p and their anti-particles as a function of $p_{T}$ from d+Au and NSD p+p events at 200 GeV. The rapidity range was -0.5 $<$ y $<$ 0.0 with the direction of the outgoing Au ions as negative rapidity. Errors are statistical.
The invariant yields of $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, p and their anti-particles as a function of $p_{T}$ from d+Au and NSD p+p events at 200 GeV. The rapidity range was -0.5 $<$ y $<$ 0.0 with the direction of the outgoing Au ions as negative rapidity. Errors are statistical.
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