Ultrarelativistic nuclear collisions create a strongly interacting state of hot and dense quark-gluon matter that exhibits a remarkable collective flow behavior with minimal viscous dissipation. To gain deeper insights into its intrinsic nature and fundamental degrees of freedom, we extracted the speed of sound in this medium created using lead-lead (PbPb) collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 5.02 TeV. The data were recorded by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 0.607 nb$^{-1}$. The measurement is performed by studying the multiplicity dependence of the average transverse momentum of charged particles emitted in head-on PbPb collisions. Our findings reveal that the speed of sound in this matter is nearly half the speed of light, with a squared value of 0.241 $\pm$ 0.002 (stat) $\pm$ 0.016 (syst) in natural units. The effective medium temperature, estimated using the mean transverse momentum, is 219 $\pm$ 8 (syst) MeV. The measured squared speed of sound at this temperature aligns precisely with predictions from lattice quantum chromodynamic (QCD) calculations. This result provides a stringent constraint on the equation of state of the created medium and direct evidence for a deconfined QCD phase being attained in relativistic nuclear collisions.
The event fraction distribution as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity, $N_{\mathrm{ch}}$, within the kinematic range of $|\eta|<0.5$ and extrapolated to the full $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ range, in PbPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\mathrm{NN}}}}=5.02$ TeV. The $N_{\mathrm{ch}}$ value is normalized by its value in the $0-5\%$ centrality class ($N_{\mathrm{ch}}^{0}$).
The average transverse momentum of charged particles, $\langle p_{\mathrm{T}}\rangle$, as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity, $N_{\mathrm{ch}}$, within the kinematic range of $|\eta|<0.5$ and extrapolated to the full $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ range in PbPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\mathrm{NN}}}}=5.02$ TeV. Both $\langle p_{\mathrm{T}}\rangle$ and $N_{\mathrm{ch}}$ are normalized by their values in the $0-5\%$ centrality class (${\langle p_{\mathrm{T}}\rangle}^{0}$ and $N_{\mathrm{ch}}^{0}$).
The speed of sound, $c^2_{\mathrm{s}}$, as a function of the effective temperature, $T_{\mathrm{eff}}$, with the CMS data point obtained from ultra-central PbPb collision data at $\sqrt{s_{_{\mathrm{NN}}}}=5.02$ TeV.
Despite the f$_0$(980) hadron having been discovered half a century ago, the question about its quark content has not been settled: it might be an ordinary quark-antiquark ($\mathrm{q\bar{q}}$) meson, a tetraquark ($\mathrm{q\bar{q}q\bar{q}}$) exotic state, a kaon-antikaon ($\mathrm{K\bar{K}}$) molecule, or a quark-antiquark-gluon ($\mathrm{q\bar{q}g}$) hybrid. This paper reports strong evidence that the f$_0$(980) state is an ordinary $\mathrm{q\bar{q}}$ meson, inferred from the scaling of elliptic anisotropies ($v_2$) with the number of constituent quarks ($n_\mathrm{q}$), as empirically established using conventional hadrons in relativistic heavy ion collisions. The f$_0$(980) state is reconstructed via its dominant decay channel f$_0$(980) $\to$$\pi^+\pi^-$, in proton-lead collisions recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC, and its $v_2$ is measured as a function of transverse momentum ($p_\mathrm{T}$). It is found that the $n_q$ = 2 ($\mathrm{q\bar{q}}$ state) hypothesis is favored over $n_q$ = 4 ($\mathrm{q\bar{q}q\bar{q}}$ or $\mathrm{K\bar{K}}$ states) by 7.7, 6.3, or 3.1 standard deviations in the $p_\mathrm{T}$$\lt$ 10, 8, or 6 GeV/$c$ ranges, respectively, and over $n_\mathrm{q}$ = 3 ($\mathrm{q\bar{q}g}$ hybrid state) by 3.5 standard deviations in the $p_\mathrm{T}$$\lt$ 8 GeV/$c$ range. This result represents the first determination of the quark content of the f$_0$(980) state, made possible by using a novel approach, and paves the way for similar studies of other exotic hadron candidates.
The elliptic flow, $v_{2}$, for $f_0(980)$ as a function of $p_{T}$ in pPb collision at 8.16 TeV.
The elliptic flow after nonflow subtraction, $v_{2}^{sub}$, for $f_0(980)$ as a function of $p_{T}$ in pPb collision at 8.16 TeV.
The elliptic flow after nonflow subtraction, $v_{2}^{sub}/2$, for $f_0(980)$ as a function of $<KE_{T}>/2$ in pPb collision at 8.16 TeV.
A search for partonic collective effects inside jets produced in proton-proton collisions is performed via correlation measurements of charged constituents using the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The analysis uses data collected at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{-1}$. Jets are reconstructed with the anti-$k_\mathrm{T}$ algorithm with a distance parameter of 0.8 and are required to have transverse momentum greater than 550 GeV and pseudorapidity $\lvert\eta\rvert$$\lt$ 1.6. Two-particle correlations among the charged constituents within the jets are studied as functions of the particles' azimuthal angle and pseudorapidity separations ($\Delta\phi^*$ and $\Delta\eta^*$) in a jet coordinate basis, where constituents' $\eta^*$, $\phi^*$ are defined relative to the direction of the jet. The correlation functions are studied in classes of in-jet charged-particle multiplicity up to $N_\text{ch}^\mathrm{j}$$\approx$ 100. Fourier harmonics are extracted from long-range azimuthal correlation functions to characterize azimuthal anisotropy for $\lvert\Delta\eta^*\rvert$$\gt$ 2. For low-multiplicity jets, the long-range elliptic anisotropic harmonic, $v^*_2$, is observed to decrease with $N_\text{ch}^\mathrm{j}$. This trend is well described by Monte Carlo event generators. However, a rising trend for $v^*_2$ emerges at $N_\text{ch}^\mathrm{j}$$\gtrsim$ 80, hinting at a possible onset of collective behavior, which is not reproduced by the models tested. This observation yields new insights into the dynamics of parton fragmentation processes in the vacuum.
Examples of two-particle angular correlations projected onto 1D $\Delta\phi^*$ for $\abs{\Delta\eta^*}>2$.
A continuous evolution of extracted two-particle Fourier coefficients $V^*_{N\Delta}$ as a function of $N_{ch}^{j}$.
The single-particle elliptic anisotropies $v^*_2$, as a function of $N_{ch}^{j}$.
The hydrodynamic flow-like behavior of charged hadrons in high-energy lead-lead collisions is studied through multiparticle correlations. The elliptic anisotropy values based on different orders of multiparticle cumulants, $v_{2}\{2k\}$, are measured up to the tenth order ($k$ = 5) as functions of the collision centrality at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV. The data were recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 0.607 nb$^{-1}$. A hierarchy is observed between the coefficients, with $v_{2}\{2\} > v_{2}\{4\} \gtrsim v_{2}\{6\} \gtrsim v_{2}\{8\} \gtrsim v_{2}\{10\}$. Based on these results, centrality-dependent moments for the fluctuation-driven event-by-event $v_{2}$ distribution are determined, including the skewness, kurtosis and, for the first time, superskewness. Assuming a hydrodynamic expansion of the produced medium, these moments directly probe the initial-state geometry in high-energy nucleus-nucleus collisions.
The $v_2\{2k\}$ ($k = 1, ..., 5$) values as functions of centrality in PbPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=5.02~\textrm{Te}\textrm{V}$. The measurement is performed with charged particles within the acceptance region.
The relative differences $(v_2\{2k\}-v_2\{10\})/v_2\{10\}$ ($k = 1, ..., 4$) as functions of centrality in PbPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=5.02~\textrm{Te}\textrm{V}$. The measurement is performed with charged particles within the acceptance region.
The $h_1$ and the $h_2$ hydrodynamic probes as functions of centrality in PbPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=5.02~\textrm{Te}\textrm{V}$. The measurement is performed with charged particles within the acceptance region.
Measurements of charged-particle production in pp, p$-$Pb, and Pb$-$Pb collisions in the toward, away, and transverse regions with the ALICE detector are discussed. These regions are defined event-by-event relative to the azimuthal direction of the charged trigger particle, which is the reconstructed particle with the largest transverse momentum ($p_{\mathrm{T}}^{\rm trig}$) in the range $8<p_{\mathrm{T}}^{\rm trig}<15$ GeV$/c$. The toward and away regions contain the primary and recoil jets, respectively; both regions are accompanied by the underlying event (UE). In contrast, the transverse region perpendicular to the direction of the trigger particle is dominated by the so-called UE dynamics, and includes also contributions from initial- and final-state radiation. The relative transverse activity classifier, $R_{\mathrm{T}}=N_{\mathrm{ch}}^{\mathrm{T}}/\langle N_{\mathrm{ch}}^{\mathrm{T}}\rangle$, is used to group events according to their UE activity, where $N_{\mathrm{ch}}^{\mathrm{T}}$ is the charged-particle multiplicity per event in the transverse region and $\langle N_{\mathrm{ch}}^{\mathrm{T}}\rangle$ is the mean value over the whole analysed sample. The energy dependence of the $R_{\mathrm{T}}$ distributions in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=2.76$, 5.02, 7, and 13 TeV is reported, exploring the Koba-Nielsen-Olesen (KNO) scaling properties of the multiplicity distributions. The first measurements of charged-particle $p_{\rm T}$ spectra as a function of $R_{\mathrm{T}}$ in the three azimuthal regions in pp, p$-$Pb, and Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=5.02$ TeV are also reported. Data are compared with predictions obtained from the event generators PYTHIA 8 and EPOS LHC. This set of measurements is expected to contribute to the understanding of the origin of collective-like effects in small collision systems (pp and p$-$Pb).
$R_\mathrm{T}$ distribution using events with trigger particles $5<p_\mathrm{T}^\mathrm{trig}<40~\mathrm{GeV}/c$ in the pseudorapidity range of $|\eta|<0.8$ and with $p_\mathrm{T}>0.5~\mathrm{GeV}/c$ in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=2.76~\mathrm{TeV}$
$R_\mathrm{T}$ distribution using events with trigger particles $5<p_\mathrm{T}^\mathrm{trig}<40~\mathrm{GeV}/c$ in the pseudorapidity range of $|\eta|<0.8$ and with $p_\mathrm{T}>0.5~\mathrm{GeV}/c$ in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=5.02~\mathrm{TeV}$
$R_\mathrm{T}$ distribution using events with trigger particles $5<p_\mathrm{T}^\mathrm{trig}<40~\mathrm{GeV}/c$ in the pseudorapidity range of $|\eta|<0.8$ and with $p_\mathrm{T}>0.5~\mathrm{GeV}/c$ in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7~\mathrm{TeV}$
The azimuthal anisotropy of $\Upsilon$(1S) mesons in high-multiplicity proton-lead collisions is studied using data collected by the CMS experiment at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 8.16 TeV. The $\Upsilon$(1S) mesons are reconstructed using their dimuon decay channel. The anisotropy is characterized by the second Fourier harmonic coefficients, found using a two-particle correlation technique, in which the $\Upsilon$(1S) mesons are correlated with charged hadrons. A large pseudorapidity gap is used to suppress short-range correlations. Nonflow contamination from the dijet background is removed using a low-multiplicity subtraction method, and the results are presented as a function of $\Upsilon$(1S) transverse momentum. The azimuthal anisotropies are smaller than those found for charmonia in proton-lead collisions at the same collision energy, but are consistent with values found for $\Upsilon$(1S) mesons in lead-lead interactions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV.
The $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ dependent $v_{2}^{\textrm{sub}}$ values of $\Upsilon(1S)$ mesons measured in the high-multiplicity region of $70 \leq N^{\text{offline}}_{\text{trk}} < 300$, where a low-multiplicity region of $N^{\text{offline}}_{\text{trk}} < 50$ is used to estimate and correct for the dijet contribution.
The $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ dependent $v_{2}^{\textrm{sub}}$ values of $\Upsilon(1S)$ mesons measured in the high-multiplicity region of $70 \leq N^{\text{offline}}_{\text{trk}} < 300$, where a low-multiplicity region of $N^{\text{offline}}_{\text{trk}} < 50$ is used to estimate and correct for the dijet contribution.
The Chiral Magnetic Wave (CMW) phenomenon is essential to provide insights into the strong interaction in QCD, the properties of the quark-gluon plasma, and the topological characteristics of the early universe, offering a deeper understanding of fundamental physics in high-energy collisions. Measurements of the charge-dependent anisotropic flow coefficients are studied in Pb-Pb collisions at center-of-mass energy per nucleon-nucleon collision $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=$ 5.02 TeV to probe the CMW. In particular, the slope of the normalized difference in elliptic ($v_{2}$) and triangular ($v_{3}$) flow coefficients of positively and negatively charged particles as a function of their event-wise normalized number difference, is reported for inclusive and identified particles. The slope $r_{3}^{\rm Norm}$ is found to be larger than zero and to have a magnitude similar to $r_{2}^{\rm Norm}$, thus pointing to a large background contribution for these measurements. Furthermore, $r_{2}^{\rm Norm}$ can be described by a blast wave model calculation that incorporates local charge conservation. In addition, using the event shape engineering technique yields a fraction of CMW ($f_{\rm CMW}$) contribution to this measurement which is compatible with zero. This measurement provides the very first upper limit for $f_{\rm CMW}$, and in the 10-60% centrality interval it is found to be 26% (38%) at 95% (99.7%) confidence level.
Normalized $\Delta\it{v}_{2}$ slope of charged hadrons as a function of centrality in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV.
Normalized $\Delta\it{v}_{2}$ slope of kaons as a function of centrality in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV.
Normalized $\Delta\it{v}_{2}$ slope of pions as a function of centrality in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV.
The transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) and centrality dependence of the nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm AA}$ of prompt and non-prompt J$/\psi$, the latter originating from the weak decays of beauty hadrons, have been measured by the ALICE collaboration in Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV. The measurements are carried out through the ${\rm e}^{+}{\rm e}^{-}$ decay channel at midrapidity ($|y| < 0.9$) in the transverse momentum region $1.5 < p_{\rm T} < 10$ GeV/$c$. Both prompt and non-prompt J$/\psi$ measurements indicate a significant suppression for $p_{\rm T} >$ 5 GeV/$c$, which becomes stronger with increasing collision centrality. The results are consistent with similar LHC measurements in the overlapping $p_{\rm T}$ intervals, and cover the kinematic region down to $p_{\rm T}$ = 1.5 GeV/$c$ at midrapidity, not accessible by other LHC experiments. The suppression of prompt J$/\psi$ in central and semicentral collisions exhibits a decreasing trend towards lower transverse momentum, described within uncertainties by models implementing J$/\psi$ production from recombination of c and $\overline{\rm c}$ quarks produced independently in different partonic scatterings. At high transverse momentum, transport models including quarkonium dissociation are able to describe the suppression for prompt J$/\psi$. For non-prompt J$/\psi$, the suppression predicted by models including both collisional and radiative processes for the computation of the beauty-quark energy loss inside the quark$-$gluon plasma is consistent with measurements within uncertainties.
Non-prompt J/$\psi$ fraction as a function of transverse momentum in Pb-Pb at 5.02 TeV, centrality 0-10%
Non-prompt J/$\psi$ fraction as a function of transverse momentum in Pb-Pb at 5.02 TeV, centrality 10-30%
Non-prompt J/$\psi$ fraction as a function of transverse momentum in Pb-Pb at 5.02 TeV, centrality 30-50%
Measurements of the production cross sections of prompt ${\rm D^0}$, ${\rm D^+}$, ${\rm D^{\ast +}}$, ${\rm D_s^+}$, ${\rm \Lambda_{c}^{+}}$, and ${\rm \Xi_{c}^{+}}$ charm hadrons at midrapidity in proton$-$proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV with the ALICE detector are presented. The D-meson cross sections as a function of transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) are provided with improved precision and granularity. The ratios of $p_{\rm T}$-differential meson production cross sections based on this publication and on measurements at different rapidity and collision energy provide a constraint on gluon parton distribution functions at low values of Bjorken-$x$ ($10^{-5}-10^{-4}$). The measurements of ${\rm \Lambda_{c}^{+}}$ (${\rm \Xi_{c}^{+}}$) baryon production extend the measured $p_{\rm T}$ intervals down to $p_{\rm T}=0(3)$~GeV$/c$. These measurements are used to determine the charm-quark fragmentation fractions and the ${\rm c\overline{c}}$ production cross section at midrapidity ($|y|<0.5$) based on the sum of the cross sections of the weakly-decaying ground-state charm hadrons ${\rm D^0}$, ${\rm D^+}$, ${\rm D_s^+}$, ${\rm \Lambda_{c}^{+}}$, ${\rm \Xi_{c}^{0}}$ and, for the first time, ${\rm \Xi_{c}^{+}}$, and of the strongly-decaying J/$psi$ mesons. The first measurements of ${\rm \Xi_{c}^{+}}$ and ${\rm \Sigma_{c}^{0,++}}$ fragmentation fractions at midrapidity are also reported. A significantly larger fraction of charm quarks hadronising to baryons is found compared to e$^+$e$^-$ and ep collisions. The ${\rm c\overline{c}}$ production cross section at midrapidity is found to be at the upper bound of state-of-the-art perturbative QCD calculations.
$p_{\mathrm{T}}$-differential $\mathrm{D}^{0}$ production cross section at midrapidity ($|y|<0.5$) in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV Branching ratio of $\mathrm{D}^{0}\rightarrow\mathrm{K}^-\pi^+$: $(3.95 \pm 0.03)\%$. Global relative uncertainty on BR: $0.8\%$ Global relative uncertainty on luminosity: $1.6\%$
$p_{\mathrm{T}}$-differential $\mathrm{D}^{+}$ production cross section at midrapidity ($|y|<0.5$) in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV Branching ratio of $\mathrm{D}^{+}\rightarrow\mathrm{K}^-\pi^+\pi^+$: $(9.38 \pm 0.16)\%$. Global relative uncertainty on BR: $1.7\%$ Global relative uncertainty on luminosity: $1.6\%$
$p_{\mathrm{T}}$-differential $\mathrm{D}^{+}$ production cross section at midrapidity ($|y|<0.5$) in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV Branching ratio of $\mathrm{D}^{*+}\rightarrow\mathrm{D}^0(\rightarrow\mathrm{K}^-\pi^+)\pi^+$: $(2.67 \pm 0.03)\%$. Global relative uncertainty on BR: $1.1\%$ Global relative uncertainty on luminosity: $1.6\%$
The elliptic flow ($v_2$) of $\rm D^0$ mesons from beauty-hadron decays (non-prompt $\rm D^0$) was measured in midcentral (30-50%) Pb-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The $\rm D^0$ mesons were reconstructed at midrapidity ($|y|<0.8$) from their hadronic decay $\mathrm{D^0 \to K^-\pi^+}$, in the transverse momentum interval $2 < p_{\rm T} < 12$ GeV/$c$. The result indicates a positive $v_2$ for non-prompt $\rm D^0$ mesons with a significance of 2.7$\sigma$. The non-prompt $\rm D^0$-meson $v_2$ is lower than that of prompt non-strange D mesons with 3.2$\sigma$ significance in $2 < p_{\rm T} < 8$ GeV/$c$, and compatible with the $v_2$ of beauty-decay electrons. Theoretical calculations of beauty-quark transport in a hydrodynamically expanding medium describe the measurement within uncertainties.
$p_\mathrm{T}$-differential elliptic flow coefficient $v_2$ of non-prompt $\mathrm{D^0}$ mesons in the 30-50% centrality class in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}=5.02~\mathrm{TeV}$.
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