High-energy nuclear collisions create an energy density similar to that of the universe microseconds after the Big Bang, and in both cases, matter and antimatter are formed with comparable abundance. However, the relatively short-lived expansion in nuclear collisions allows antimatter to decouple quickly from matter, and avoid annihilation. Thus, a high energy accelerator of heavy nuclei is an efficient means of producing and studying antimatter. The antimatter helium-4 nucleus ($^4\bar{He}$), also known as the anti-{\alpha} ($\bar{\alpha}$), consists of two antiprotons and two antineutrons (baryon number B=-4). It has not been observed previously, although the {\alpha} particle was identified a century ago by Rutherford and is present in cosmic radiation at the 10% level. Antimatter nuclei with B < -1 have been observed only as rare products of interactions at particle accelerators, where the rate of antinucleus production in high-energy collisions decreases by about 1000 with each additional antinucleon. We present the observation of the antimatter helium-4 nucleus, the heaviest observed antinucleus. In total 18 $^4\bar{He}$ counts were detected at the STAR experiment at RHIC in 10$^9$ recorded Au+Au collisions at center-of-mass energies of 200 GeV and 62 GeV per nucleon-nucleon pair. The yield is consistent with expectations from thermodynamic and coalescent nucleosynthesis models, which has implications beyond nuclear physics.
Differential invariant yields of (anti)baryons evaluated at pT/B =0.875 GeV/c, in central 200 GeV Au+Au collisions.
Two-particle azimuthal ($\Delta\phi$) and pseudorapidity ($\Delta\eta$) correlations using a trigger particle with large transverse momentum ($p_T$) in $d$+Au, Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{{NN}}}$ =\xspace 62.4 GeV and 200~GeV from the STAR experiment at RHIC are presented. The \ns correlation is separated into a jet-like component, narrow in both $\Delta\phi$ and $\Delta\eta$, and the ridge, narrow in $\Delta\phi$ but broad in $\Delta\eta$. Both components are studied as a function of collision centrality, and the jet-like correlation is studied as a function of the trigger and associated $p_T$. The behavior of the jet-like component is remarkably consistent for different collision systems, suggesting it is produced by fragmentation. The width of the jet-like correlation is found to increase with the system size. The ridge, previously observed in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{{NN}}}$ = 200 GeV, is also found in Cu+Cu collisions and in collisions at $\sqrt{s_{{NN}}}$ =\xspace 62.4 GeV, but is found to be substantially smaller at $\sqrt{s_{{NN}}}$ =\xspace 62.4 GeV than at $\sqrt{s_{{NN}}}$ = 200 GeV for the same average number of participants ($ \langle N_{\mathrm{part}}\rangle$). Measurements of the ridge are compared to models.
Parameterizations of the transverse momentum dependence of the reconstruction efficiency of charged particles in the TPC in various collision systems, energies and centrality bins for the track selection cuts used in this analysis.
The raw correlation in $\Delta\eta$ for di-hadron correlations for 3 $<$ $p_T^{trigger}$ $<$ 6 GeV/$c$ and 1.5 GeV/$c$ $<$ $p_T^{associated}$ $<$ $p_T^{trigger}$ for 0-12% central \Au collisions for $|\Delta\phi|<$ 0.78 before and after the track merging correction is applied. The data have been reflected about $\Delta\eta$=0.
Sample correlations in $\Delta\eta$ ($|\Delta\phi|<$ 0.78) for 3 $<$ $p_T^{trigger}$ $<$ 6 GeV/$c$ and 1.5 GeV/$c$ $<$ $p_T^{associated}$ $<$ $p_T^{trigger}$ for 0-60% Cu+Cu at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 62.4 GeV, 0-80% Au+Au at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 62.4 GeV, 0-95% $d$+Au at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV, 0-60% Cu+Cu at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV, 40-80% Au+Au at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV, and 0-12% central Au+Au at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. The data are averaged between positive and negative $\Delta\eta$. 5% systematic uncertainty due to track reconstruction efficiency not listed below.
We present the measurement of non-photonic electron production at high transverse momentum ($p_T > $ 2.5 GeV/$c$) in $p$ + $p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV using data recorded during 2005 and 2008 by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The measured cross-sections from the two runs are consistent with each other despite a large difference in photonic background levels due to different detector configurations. We compare the measured non-photonic electron cross-sections with previously published RHIC data and pQCD calculations. Using the relative contributions of B and D mesons to non-photonic electrons, we determine the integrated cross sections of electrons ($\frac{e^++e^-}{2}$) at 3 GeV/$c < p_T <~$10 GeV/$c$ from bottom and charm meson decays to be ${d\sigma_{(B\to e)+(B\to D \to e)} \over dy_e}|_{y_e=0}$ = 4.0$\pm0.5$({\rm stat.})$\pm1.1$({\rm syst.}) nb and ${d\sigma_{D\to e} \over dy_e}|_{y_e=0}$ = 6.2$\pm0.7$({\rm stat.})$\pm1.5$({\rm syst.}) nb, respectively.
The electron pair invariant mass distributions for electrons at $2.5 < p_{T} < 3.0$ GeV/c
The electron pair invariant mass distributions for electrons at $8 < p_{T} < 10$ GeV/c
The simulated electron pair invariant mass distributions for electrons at $2.5 < p_{T} < 3$ GeV/c
We report STAR measurements of the longitudinal double-spin asymmetry A_LL, the transverse single-spin asymmetry A_N, and the transverse double-spin asymmetries A_Sigma and A_TT for inclusive jet production at mid-rapidity in polarized p+p collisions at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt{s} = 200 GeV. The data represent integrated luminosities of 7.6 /pb with longitudinal polarization and 1.8 /pb with transverse polarization, with 50-55% beam polarization, and were recorded in 2005 and 2006. No evidence is found for the existence of statistically significant jet A_N, A_Sigma, or A_TT at mid-rapidity. Recent model calculations indicate the A_N results may provide new limits on the gluon Sivers distribution in the proton. The asymmetry A_LL significantly improves the knowledge of gluon polarization in the nucleon.
(color online) $A_{N}$ as a function of the corrected mean $p_{T}$ for 2006 transverse data. The panels present $A_{N}$ for four different $\eta$ bins. $A_{N}$ is the left-right single-spin asymmetry for a transversely polarized beam. The errors shown combine the statistical uncertainties, which dominate, with all systematic uncertainties except trigger and reconstruction bias. See Sect. V A for a discussion of the latter.
(color online) $A_{N}$ as a function of the corrected mean $p_{T}$ for 2006 transverse data. The panels present $A_{N}$ for four different $\eta$ bins. $A_{N}$ is the left-right single-spin asymmetry for a transversely polarized beam. The errors shown combine the statistical uncertainties, which dominate, with all systematic uncertainties except trigger and reconstruction bias. See Sect. V A for a discussion of the latter.
(color online) $A_{N}$ as a function of the corrected mean $p_{T}$ for 2006 transverse data. The panels present $A_{N}$ for four different $\eta$ bins. $A_{N}$ is the left-right single-spin asymmetry for a transversely polarized beam. The errors shown combine the statistical uncertainties, which dominate, with all systematic uncertainties except trigger and reconstruction bias. See Sect. V A for a discussion of the latter.
Previous experimental results based on data (15 million events) collected by the STAR detector at RHIC suggest event-by-event charge separation fluctuations perpendicular to the event plane in non-central heavy-ion collisions. Here we present the correlator previously used split into its two component parts to reveal correlations parallel and perpendicular to the event plane. The results are from a high statistics 200 GeV Au+Au collisions data set (57 million events) collected by the STAR experiment. We explicitly count units of charge separation from which we find clear evidence for more charge separation fluctuations perpendicular than parallel to the event plane. We also employ a modified correlator to study the possible P-even background in same and opposite charge correlations, and find that the P-even background may largely be explained by momentum conservation and collective motion.
(Color online) $\Delta RMS^{\Delta Q}/\langle RMS^{\Delta Q}\rangle$ versus centrality for Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$= 200 GeV. Not corrected for event plane resolution. Errors are statistical only.
(Color online) $\langle sin(\phi_{\alpha} − \Psi_{1})\rangle$ for positive and negative charges versus centrality for Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$= 200 GeV. Shaded area represents the systematic uncertainty for both charge types obtained by comparing correlations from positive and negative pseudorapidity.
(Color online) Three-point correlator, Eq. 1, measured with $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ harmonic event planes versus centrality for Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$= 200 GeV. Shown with crosses are our previous results from the 2004 RHIC run (Y4) [9, 10]. The Y4 run used a second harmonic event plane. Y4 and Y7 $\Psi_{2}$ results are consistent within statistical errors. Shaded areas for the $2^{nd}$ harmonic points represent the systematic uncertainty of the event plane determination. Systematic uncertainties for the $1^{st}$ harmonic points are negligible compared to the statistical ones shown.
We report measurements of the charge-separated $W^{+(-)} \to e^{+(-)} + \nu_e(\bar{\nu}_e)$ and $Z/\gamma^* \to e^+e^-$ production cross sections at mid-rapidity in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 500 GeV. These results are based on 13.2 pb$^{-1}$ of data recorded in 2009 by the STAR detector at RHIC. Production cross sections for W bosons that decay via the $e \nu$ channel were measured to be $\sigma(pp \to W^+ X) \cdot BR(W^+ \to e^+ \nu_e)$ = 117.3 \pm 5.9(stat) \pm 6.2(syst) \pm 15.2(lumi) pb, and $\sigma(pp \to W^- X) \cdot BR(W^- \to e^- \bar{\nu}_e)$ = 43.3 \pm 4.6(stat) \pm 3.4(syst) \pm 5.6(lumi) pb. For $Z/\gamma^*$ production, $\sigma(pp \to Z/\gamma^* X) \cdot BR(Z/\gamma^* \to e^+ e^-)$ = 7.7 \pm 2.1(stat) $^{+0.5}_{-0.9}$(syst) \pm 1.0(lumi) pb for di-lepton invariant masses $m_{e^+e^-}$ between 70 and 110 GeV/$c^2$. First measurements of the W cross section ratio, $\sigma(pp \to W^+ X) / \sigma(pp \to W^- X)$, at $\sqrt{s}$ = 500 GeV are also reported. Theoretical predictions, calculated using recent parton distribution functions, are found to agree with the measured cross sections.
(Color online) Trigger rate as a function of vernier scan beam displacement in the x and y directions. The transverse beam widths ($\sigma_{x}$ and $\sigma_{y}$) and maximum trigger rate ($R^{max}_{ver}$) were extracted from the fit, which is superimposed.
(Color online) Trigger rate as a function of vernier scan beam displacement in the x and y directions. The transverse beam widths ($\sigma_{x}$ and $\sigma_{y}$) and maximum trigger rate ($R^{max}_{ver}$) were extracted from the fit, which is superimposed.
(Color online) Distributions of $E^{e}_{T}$ for W candidate events after sequentially applying the selection criteria de- scribed in Secs. IV A and IV B.
The measurement of J/{psi} azimuthal anisotropy is presented as a function of transverse momentum for different centralities in Au+Au collisions at {sqrt{s_{NN}}} = 200 GeV. The measured J/{psi} elliptic flow is consistent with zero within errors for transverse momentum between 2 and 10 GeV/c. Our measurement suggests that J/{psi} with relatively large transverse momentum are not dominantly produced by coalescence from thermalized charm quarks, when comparing to model calculations.
J/Psi azimuthal anisotropy v2 vs pT measured via the dielectron channel in 0-10%, 10-40%, and 40-80% central Au+Au collisions at 200 GeV. The brackets represent systematic errors. The boxes show the estimated maximum possible range of v2 if the nonflow influence is corrected. The mean pT in each bin for v2 calculation is drawn, but is shifted a little for some centralities so that all points can be seen clearly.
J/Psi azimuthal anisotropy v2 vs pT measured via the dielectron channel in 0-80% central Au+Au collisions at 200 GeV. The brackets represent systematic errors. The boxes show the estimated maximum possible range of v2 if the nonflow influence is corrected.
We report $J/\psi$ spectra for transverse momenta $p_T$> 5 GeV/$c$ at mid-rapidity in p+p and Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_{NN}) = 200 GeV.The inclusive $J/\psi$ spectrum and the extracted $B$-hadron feed-down are compared to models incorporating different production mechanisms. We observe significant suppression of the $J/\psi$ yields for $p_T$> 5 GeV/$c$ in 0-30% Au+Au collisions relative to the p+p yield scaled by the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions in Au+Au collisions. In 30-60% collisions, no such suppression is observed.The level of suppression is consistently less than that of high-$p_T$ $\pi^{\pm}$ and low-$p_T$ $J/\psi$.
(Color online.) The fraction of $B \rightarrow J/\psi$ over the inclusive $J/\psi$ yield in $p+p$ collisions. The FONLL+CEM model calculation is also shown.
$J/\psi$ $p_{T}$ distributions in Au+Au collisions with different centralities at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. For clarity, the data and curves have been scaled as indicated in the legends. The PHENIX results are reported in [6]. The curves are model fits described in the text.
(Color online.) $J/\psi$ RAA versus pT for several centrality bins for Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. The statistical (systematic) uncertainties are shown with vertical bars (open boxes). The filled boxes about unity on the right show the size of the normalization uncertainty. PHENIX low-$p_{T}$ $J/\psi$ results [6] and STAR high-$p_{T}$ results in Cu+Cu collisions [15] are shown for comparison. The curves are from the predictions by Model I (Liu et al.) [11] and Model II (Zhao et al.) [12].
We present STAR measurements of azimuthal anisotropy by means of the two- and four-particle cumulants $v_2$ ($v_2\{2\}$ and $v_2\{4\}$) for Au+Au and Cu+Cu collisions at center of mass energies $\sqrt{s_{_{\mathrm{NN}}}} = 62.4$ and 200 GeV. The difference between $v_2\{2\}^2$ and $v_2\{4\}^2$ is related to $v_{2}$ fluctuations ($\sigma_{v_2}$) and nonflow $(\delta_{2})$. We present an upper limit to $\sigma_{v_2}/v_{2}$. Following the assumption that eccentricity fluctuations $\sigma_{\epsilon}$ dominate $v_2$ fluctuations $\frac{\sigma_{v_2}}{v_2} \approx \frac{\sigma_{\epsilon}}{\epsilon}$ we deduce the nonflow implied for several models of eccentricity fluctuations that would be required for consistency with $v_2\{2\}$ and $v_2\{4\}$. We also present results on the ratio of $v_2$ to eccentricity.
The two-particle cumulant $v_2\{2\}^2$ for Au+Au collisions at 200 and 62.4 GeV. Results are shown with like-sign combinations (LS) and charge-independent results (CI) for $0.15 < p_T < 2.0$ GeV/$c$.
The same as the left but for Cu+Cu collisions. The systematic errors are shown as thin lines with wide caps at the ends and statistical errors are shown as thick lines with small caps at the end. Statistical and systematic errors are very small.
The difference of charge-independent (CI) v2{2} and like-sign (LS) $v_2\{2\}$ for Au+Au and Cu+Cu collisions at 200 (top panel) and 62.4 (bottom panel) GeV vs. the log of $\langle dN_{ch}/d\eta\rangle$.The statistical errors are smaller than the marker size and not visible for most of the data.
Jet-medium interactions are studied via a multi-hadron correlation technique (called "2+1"), where a pair of back-to-back hadron triggers with large transverse momentum is used as a proxy for a di-jet. This work extends the previous analysis for nearly-symmetric trigger pairs with the highest momentum threshold of trigger hadron of 5 GeV/$c$ with the new calorimeter-based triggers with energy thresholds of up to 10 GeV and above. The distributions of associated hadrons are studied in terms of correlation shapes and per-trigger yields on each trigger side. In contrast with di-hadron correlation results with single triggers, the associated hadron distributions for back-to-back triggers from central Au+Au data at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=200 GeV show no strong modifications compared to d+Au data at the same energy. An imbalance in the total transverse momentum between hadrons attributed to the near-side and away-side of jet-like peaks is observed. The relative imbalance in the Au+Au measurement with respect to d+Au reference is found to increase with the asymmetry of the trigger pair, consistent with expectation from medium-induced energy loss effects. In addition, this relative total transverse momentum imbalance is found to decrease for softer associated hadrons. Such evolution indicates the energy missing at higher associated momenta is converted into softer hadrons.
Projections of 2-D correlation functions on $\Delta \phi$ (a) (with $|\Delta \eta|$ < 1.0) and $\Delta \eta$ (b) (with $|\Delta \phi|$ < 0.7) for the hadrons associated with their respective triggers (T1 for near-side, T2 for away–side) are shown for d+Au (circles) and central 0-20% Au+Au (squares).
Projections of 2-D correlation functions on $\Delta \phi$ (a) (with $|\Delta \eta|$ < 1.0) and $\Delta \eta$ (b) (with $|\Delta \phi|$ < 0.7) for the hadrons associated with their respective triggers (T1 for near-side, T2 for away–side) are shown for d+Au (circles) and central 0-20% Au+Au (squares).
Projections of 2-D correlation functions on $\Delta \phi$ (a) (with $|\Delta \eta|$ < 1.0) and $\Delta \eta$ (b) (with $|\Delta \phi|$ < 0.7) for the hadrons associated with their respective triggers (T1 for near-side, T2 for away–side) are shown for d+Au (circles) and central 0-20% Au+Au (squares).
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