The first measurements of the scattering parameters of $\Lambda$K pairs in all three charge combinations ($\Lambda$K$^{+}$, $\Lambda$K$^{-}$, and $\Lambda\mathrm{K^{0}_{S}}$) are presented. The results are achieved through a femtoscopic analysis of $\Lambda$K correlations in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}$ = 2.76 TeV recorded by ALICE at the LHC. The femtoscopic correlations result from strong final-state interactions, and are fit with a parametrization allowing for both the characterization of the pair emission source and the measurement of the scattering parameters for the particle pairs. Extensive studies with the THERMINATOR 2 event generator provide a good description of the non-femtoscopic background, which results mainly from collective effects, with unprecedented precision. Furthermore, together with HIJING simulations, this model is used to account for contributions from residual correlations induced by feed-down from particle decays. The extracted scattering parameters indicate that the strong force is repulsive in the $\Lambda\rm{K}^{+}$ interaction and attractive in the $\Lambda\rm{K}^{-}$ interaction. The data hint that the and $\Lambda\rm{K}^{0}_{S}$ interaction is attractive, however the uncertainty of the result does not permit such a decisive conclusion. The results suggest an effect arising either from different quark-antiquark interactions between the pairs ($\rm s\overline{s}$ in $\Lambda$K$^{+}$ and $\rm u\overline{u}$ in $\Lambda$K$^{-}$) or from different net strangeness for each system (S = 0 for $\Lambda$K$^{+}$, and S = $-2$ for $\Lambda$K$^{-}$). Finally, the $\Lambda$K systems exhibit source radii larger than expected from extrapolation from identical particle femtoscopic studies. This effect is interpreted as resulting from the separation in space-time of the single-particle $\Lambda$ and K source distributions.
Invariant mass distributions in the 0--10\% centrality interval of (a) p$\uppi^{-}$ pairs showing the $\Lambda$ peak for V$^{0}$ candidates.
Invariant mass distributions in the 0--10\% centrality interval of $\uppi^{+}\uppi^{-}$ pairs showing the $\mathrm{K^{0}_{S}}$ peak for V$^{0}$ candidates.
Measured correlation function for the $\Lambda\mathrm{K^{+}}\oplus\overline{\Lambda}\mathrm{K^{-}}$ system in the 0--10\% centrality interval.
One of the key challenges for nuclear physics today is to understand from first principles the effective interaction between hadrons with different quark content. First successes have been achieved using techniques that solve the dynamics of quarks and gluons on discrete space-time lattices. Experimentally, the dynamics of the strong interaction have been studied by scattering hadrons off each other. Such scattering experiments are difficult or impossible for unstable hadrons and so high-quality measurements exist only for hadrons containing up and down quarks. Here we demonstrate that measuring correlations in the momentum space between hadron pairs produced in ultrarelativistic proton-proton collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) provides a precise method with which to obtain the missing information on the interaction dynamics between any pair of unstable hadrons. Specifically, we discuss the case of the interaction of baryons containing strange quarks (hyperons). We demonstrate how, using precision measurements of p-omega baryon correlations, the effect of the strong interaction for this hadron-hadron pair can be studied with precision similar to, and compared with, predictions from lattice calculations. The large number of hyperons identified in proton-proton collisions at the LHC, together with an accurate modelling of the small (approximately one femtometre) inter-particle distance and exact predictions for the correlation functions, enables a detailed determination of the short-range part of the nucleon-hyperon interaction.
The p--$\Xi^{-}$ $\oplus$ $\overline{\mathrm{p}}$--$\overline{\Xi}^{+}$ correlation function.
The p--$\Xi^{-}$ $\oplus$ $\overline{\mathrm{p}}$--$\overline{\Xi}^{+}$ correlation function.
The p--$\Omega^{-}$ $\oplus$ $\overline{\mathrm{p}}$--$\overline{\Omega}^{+}$ correlation function.
An angular analysis of the $B^{0}\rightarrow K^{*0}(\rightarrow K^{+}\pi^{-})\mu^{+}\mu^{-}$ decay is presented. The dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of $3.0\,{\mbox{fb}^{-1}}$ of $pp$ collision data collected at the LHCb experiment. The complete angular information from the decay is used to determine $C\!P$-averaged observables and $C\!P$ asymmetries, taking account of possible contamination from decays with the $K^{+}\pi^{-}$ system in an S-wave configuration. The angular observables and their correlations are reported in bins of $q^2$, the invariant mass squared of the dimuon system. The observables are determined both from an unbinned maximum likelihood fit and by using the principal moments of the angular distribution. In addition, by fitting for $q^2$-dependent decay amplitudes in the region $1.1<q^{2}<6.0\mathrm{\,Ge\kern -0.1em V}^{2}/c^{4}$, the zero-crossing points of several angular observables are computed. A global fit is performed to the complete set of $C\!P$-averaged observables obtained from the maximum likelihood fit. This fit indicates differences with predictions based on the Standard Model at the level of 3.4 standard deviations. These differences could be explained by contributions from physics beyond the Standard Model, or by an unexpectedly large hadronic effect that is not accounted for in the Standard Model predictions.
CP-averaged angular observables evaluated by the unbinned maximum likelihood fit.
CP-averaged angular observables evaluated by the unbinned maximum likelihood fit. The first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic.
CP-asymmetric angular observables evaluated by the unbinned maximum likelihood fit. The first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic.
The measurement of the azimuthal-correlation function of prompt D mesons with charged particles in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 TeV and p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC is reported. The D$^{\rm 0}$, D$^{\rm +}$, and D$^{\rm *+}$ mesons, together with their charge conjugates, were reconstructed at midrapidity in the transverse momentum interval 3 < $p_{\rm T}$ < 24 GeV/c and correlated with charged particles having $p_{\rm T}$ > 0.3 GeV/c and pseudorapidity $|\eta| <$ 0.8. The properties of the correlation peaks appearing in the near- and away-side regions (for $\Delta \varphi \approx$ 0 and $\Delta \varphi \approx \pi$, respectively) were extracted via a fit to the azimuthal correlation functions. The shape of the correlation functions and the near- and away-side peak features are found to be consistent in pp and p-Pb collisions, showing no modifications due to nuclear effects within uncertainties. The results are compared with predictions from Monte Carlo simulations performed with the PYTHIA, POWHEG+PYTHIA, HERWIG, and EPOS 3 event generators.
Comparison of the azimuthal-correlation distributions of D mesons (average of D$^{0}$, D$^{+}$, D$^{*+}$) with $3 < p_{\rm T} < 5$ GeV/$c$ and charged particles with $p_{\rm T} > 0.3$ GeV/$c$, in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$ TeV and p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.02$ TeV, after baseline subtraction. Rapidity range for the D mesons are $|y^{\rm D}_{\rm cms}| < 0.5$ in pp, $-0.96 < y^{\rm D}_{\rm cms} < 0.04$ in p-Pb. Correlations are integrated for $|\Delta\eta|=|\eta_{\rm ch}-\eta_{\rm D}| < 1$. The azimuthal-correlation distributions are reported in the range $0 < \Delta\varphi < \pi$.
Comparison of the azimuthal-correlation distributions of D mesons (average of D$^{0}$, D$^{+}$, D$^{*+}$) with $5 < p_{\rm T} < 8$ GeV/$c$ and charged particles with $p_{\rm T} > 0.3$ GeV/$c$, in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$ TeV and p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.02$ TeV, after baseline subtraction. Rapidity range for the D mesons are $|y^{\rm D}_{\rm cms}| < 0.5$ in pp, $-0.96 < y^{\rm D}_{\rm cms} < 0.04$ in p-Pb. Correlations are integrated for $|\Delta\eta|=|\eta_{\rm ch}-\eta_{\rm D}| < 1$. The azimuthal-correlation distributions are reported in the range $0 < \Delta\varphi < \pi$.
Comparison of the azimuthal-correlation distributions of D mesons (average of D$^{0}$, D$^{+}$, D$^{*+}$) with $8 < p_{\rm T} < 16$ GeV/$c$ and charged particles with $p_{\rm T} > 0.3$ GeV/$c$, in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$ TeV and p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.02$ TeV, after baseline subtraction. Rapidity range for the D mesons are $|y^{\rm D}_{\rm cms}| < 0.5$ in pp, $-0.96 < y^{\rm D}_{\rm cms} < 0.04$ in p-Pb. Correlations are integrated for $|\Delta\eta|=|\eta_{\rm ch}-\eta_{\rm D}| < 1$. The azimuthal-correlation distributions are reported in the range $0 < \Delta\varphi < \pi$.
We present the first azimuthally differential measurements of the pion source size relative to the second harmonic event plane in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon-nucleon pair of $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76$ TeV. The measurements have been performed in the centrality range 0-50% and for pion pair transverse momenta $0.2 < k_{\rm T} < 0.7$ GeV/$c$. We find that the $R_{\rm side}$ and $R_{\rm out}$ radii, which characterize the pion source size in the directions perpendicular and parallel to the pion transverse momentum, oscillate out of phase, similar to what was observed at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The final-state source eccentricity, estimated via $R_{\rm side}$ oscillations, is found to be significantly smaller than the initial-state source eccentricity, but remains positive; indicating that even after a stronger expansion in the in-plane direction, the pion source at the freeze-out is still elongated in the out-of-plane direction. The 3+1D hydrodynamic calculations are in qualitative agreement with observed centrality and transverse momentum $R_{\rm side}$ oscillations, but systematically underestimate the oscillation magnitude.
The azimuthal dependence of $R_{out}^{2}$ as a function of $\Delta\varphi=\varphi_{\mathrm{pair}}-\Psi_{\mathrm EP,2}$ for the centrality 20--30% and different $k_{\mathrm{T}}$ ranges.
The azimuthal dependence of $R_{out}^{2}$ as a function of $\Delta\varphi=\varphi_{\mathrm{pair}}-\Psi_{\mathrm EP,2}$ for the centrality 20--30% and different $k_{\mathrm{T}}$ ranges.
The azimuthal dependence of $R_{out}^{2}$ as a function of $\Delta\varphi=\varphi_{\mathrm{pair}}-\Psi_{\mathrm EP,2}$ for the centrality 20--30% and different $k_{\mathrm{T}}$ ranges.
In high-energy heavy-ion collisions, the correlations between the emitted particles can be used as a probe to gain insight into the charge creation mechanisms. In this Letter, we report the first results of such studies using the electric charge balance function in the relative pseudorapidity ($\Delta\eta$) and azimuthal angle ($\Delta\varphi$) in Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The width of the balance function decreases with growing centrality (i.e. for more central collisions) in both projections. This centrality dependence is not reproduced by HIJING, while AMPT, a model which incorporates strings and parton rescattering, exhibits qualitative agreement with the measured correlations in $\Delta\varphi$ but fails to describe the correlations in $\Delta\eta$. A thermal blast-wave model incorporating local charge conservation and tuned to describe the $p_{\rm T}$ spectra and v$_2$ measurements reported by ALICE, is used to fit the centrality dependence of the width of the balance function and to extract the average separation of balancing charges at freeze-out. The comparison of our results with measurements at lower energies reveals an ordering with $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$: the balance functions become narrower with increasing energy for all centralities. This is consistent with the effect of larger radial flow at the LHC energies but also with the late stage creation scenario of balancing charges. However, the relative decrease of the balance function widths in $\Delta\eta$ and $\Delta\varphi$ with centrality from the highest SPS to the LHC energy exhibits only small differences. This observation cannot be interpreted solely within the framework where the majority of the charge is produced at a later stage in the evolution of the heavy--ion collision.
The Balance Function as a function of the relative pseudorapidity of two charged particles for the centrality class 0-5%. Also shown in the second column is the result from the mixed data set.
The Balance Function as a function of the relative pseudorapidity of two charged particles for the centrality class 30-40%.
The Balance Function as a function of the relative pseudorapidity of two charged particles for the centrality class 70-80%.
Measurements of charge dependent azimuthal correlations with the ALICE detector at the LHC are reported for Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV. Two- and three-particle charge-dependent azimuthal correlations in the pseudo-rapidity range $|\eta| < 0.8$ are presented as a function of the collision centrality, particle separation in pseudo-rapidity, and transverse momentum. A clear signal compatible with a charge-dependent separation relative to the reaction plane is observed, which shows little or no collision energy dependence when compared to measurements at RHIC energies. This provides a new insight for understanding the nature of the charge dependent azimuthal correlations observed at RHIC and LHC energies.
The centrality dependence of the three-particle charge-dependent correlator MEAN(COS(PHI(A)+COS(PHI(B)-2*PHI(RP)) measured with the cumulant method.
The centrality dependence of the correlator three-particle charge-dependent MEAN(COS(PHI(A)+COS(PHI(B)-2*PHI(RP)) measured from correlations with the reaction plane (RP) estimated using the TPC detector.
The centrality dependence of the correlator three-particle charge-dependent MEAN(COS(PHI(A)+COS(PHI(B)-2*PHI(RP)) measured from correlations with the reaction plane (RP) estimated using the VZERO detector.
This article presents measurements of the $t$-channel single top-quark ($t$) and top-antiquark ($\bar{t}$) total production cross sections $\sigma(tq)$ and $\sigma(\bar{t}q)$, their ratio $R_{t}=\sigma(tq)/\sigma(\bar{t}q)$, and a measurement of the inclusive production cross section $\sigma(tq + \bar{t}q)$ in proton--proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV at the LHC. Differential cross sections for the $tq$ and $\bar{t}q$ processes are measured as a function of the transverse momentum and the absolute value of the rapidity of $t$ and $\bar{t}$, respectively. The analyzed data set was recorded with the ATLAS detector and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 4.59 fb$^{-1}$. Selected events contain one charged lepton, large missing transverse momentum, and two or three jets. The cross sections are measured by performing a binned maximum-likelihood fit to the output distributions of neural networks. The resulting measurements are $\sigma(tq)= 46\pm 6\; \mathrm{pb}$, $\sigma(\bar{t}q)= 23 \pm 4\; \mathrm{pb}$, $R_{t}=2.04\pm 0.18$, and $\sigma(tq + \bar{t}q)= 68 \pm 8\; \mathrm{pb}$, consistent with the Standard Model expectation. The uncertainty on the measured cross sections is dominated by systematic uncertainties, while the uncertainty on $R_{t}$ is mainly statistical. Using the ratio of $\sigma(tq + \bar{t}q)$ to its theoretical prediction, and assuming that the top-quark-related CKM matrix elements obey the relation $|V_{tb}|\gg |V_{ts}|, |V_{td}|$, we determine $|V_{tb}|=1.02 \pm 0.07$.
Differential t-channel top-quark production cross sections and normalized differential t-channel top-quark production cross sections as functions of PT(TOP).
Predicted and observed events yields for the 2-jet and 3-jet channels considered in this measurement. The multijet background is estimated using data-driven techniques (see Sec. VB); an uncertainty of $50\%$ is applied. All the other expectations are derived using theoretical cross sections and their uncertainties (see Secs. VA and VC in the paper).
Differential t-channel top-quark production cross sections and normalized differential t-channel top-quark production cross sections as functions of PT(TOPBAR).
The interaction of $\rm{K}^{-}$ with protons is characterised by the presence of several coupled channels, systems like ${\rm \overline{K}^0}$n and $\pi\Sigma$ with a similar mass and the same quantum numbers as the $\rm{K}^{-}$p state. The strengths of these couplings to the $\rm{K}^{-}$p system are of crucial importance for the understanding of the nature of the $\Lambda(1405)$ resonance and of the attractive $\rm{K}^{-}$p strong interaction. In this article, we present measurements of the $\rm{K}^{-}$p correlation functions in relative momentum space obtained in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}~=~13$ TeV, in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}~=~5.02$ TeV, and (semi)peripheral Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}~=~5.02$ TeV. The emitting source size, composed of a core radius anchored to the $\rm{K}^{+}$p correlation and of a resonance halo specific to each particle pair, varies between 1 and 2 fm in these collision systems. The strength and the effects of the ${\rm \overline{K}^0}$n and $\pi\Sigma$ inelastic channels on the measured $\rm{K}^{-}$p correlation function are investigated in the different colliding systems by comparing the data with state-of-the-art models of chiral potentials. A novel approach to determine the conversion weights $\omega$, necessary to quantify the amount of produced inelastic channels in the correlation function, is presented. In this method, particle yields are estimated from thermal model predictions, and their kinematic distribution from blast-wave fits to measured data. The comparison of chiral potentials to the measured $\rm{K}^{-}$p interaction indicates that, while the $\pi\Sigma-\rm{K}^{-}$p dynamics is well reproduced by the model, the coupling to the ${\rm \overline{K}^0}$n channel in the model is currently underestimated.
K$^+$p (K$^+$p $\oplus$ K$^-\overline{\mathrm p}$) correlation function in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV.
K$^+$p (K$^+$p $\oplus$ K$^-\overline{\mathrm p}$) correlation function in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm {NN}}}=5.02 $ TeV (0-20%).
K$^+$p (K$^+$p $\oplus$ K$^-\overline{\mathrm p}$) correlation function in p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02$ TeV (20-40%).
Measurements of the differential branching fraction and angular moments of the decay $B^0 \to K^+ \pi^- \mu^+ \mu^-$ in the $K^+\pi^-$ invariant mass range $1330<m(K^+ \pi^-)<1530~MeV/c^2$ are presented. Proton-proton collision data are used, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 $fb^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment. Differential branching fraction measurements are reported in five bins of the invariant mass squared of the dimuon system, $q^2$, between 0.1 and 8.0 $GeV^2/c^4$. For the first time, an angular analysis sensitive to the S-, P- and D-wave contributions of this rare decay is performed. The set of 40 normalised angular moments describing the decay is presented for the $q^2$ range 1.1--6.0 $GeV^2/c^4$.
: Differential branching fraction of $B^0 \to K^+ \pi^- \mu^+ \mu^-$ in bins of $q^2$ for the range $1330<m(K^+ \pi^-)<1530~MeV/c^2$. The first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third due to the uncertainty on the $B^0 \to J/\psi K^*(892)^0$ and $J/\psi \to \mu\mu$ branching fractions.
Measurement of the normalised moments, $\overline{\Gamma}_{i}$, of the decay $B^0 \to K^+ \pi^- \mu^+ \mu^-$ in the range $1.1< q^2<6.0 GeV^2/c^4$ and $1330<m(K^+ \pi^-)<1530~MeV/c^2$. The first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.
Full covariance matrix of the normalised moments. The statistical and systematic uncertainties are combined.
Forum