Event-by-event fluctuations of the ratio of inclusive charged to photon multiplicities at forward rapidity in Au+Au collision at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=200 GeV have been studied. Dominant contribution to such fluctuations is expected to come from correlated production of charged and neutral pions. We search for evidences of dynamical fluctuations of different physical origins. Observables constructed out of moments of multiplicities are used as measures of fluctuations. Mixed events and model calculations are used as baselines. Results are compared to the dynamical net-charge fluctuations measured in the same acceptance. A non-zero statistically significant signal of dynamical fluctuations is observed in excess to the model prediction when charged particles and photons are measured in the same acceptance. We find that, unlike dynamical net-charge fluctuation, charge-neutral fluctuation is not dominated by correlation due to particle decay. Results are compared to the expectations based on the generic production mechanism of pions due to isospin symmetry, for which no significant (<1%) deviation is observed.
Multiplicity distributions of raw charged particles and photons.
The $v_{dyn}$ and the three terms of $v_{dyn}$ vs $\sqrt{\langle N_{ch}\rangle \langle N_{\gamma}\rangle }$ for real events. $\omega_{ch}^{real}$ is plotted.
The $v_{dyn}$ and the three terms of $v_{dyn}$ vs $\sqrt{\langle N_{ch}\rangle \langle N_{\gamma}\rangle }$ for mixed events. $\omega_{ch}^{mixed}$ is plotted.
A search for the quantum chromodynamics (QCD) critical point was performed by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, using dynamical fluctuations of unlike particle pairs. Heavy-ion collisions were studied over a large range of collision energies with homogeneous acceptance and excellent particle identification, covering a significant range in the QCD phase diagram where a critical point may be located. Dynamical $K\pi$, $p\pi$, and $Kp$ fluctuations as measured by the STAR experiment in central 0-5\% Au+Au collisions from center-of-mass collision energies $\rm \sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 7.7 to 200 GeV are presented. The observable $\rm \nu_{dyn}$ was used to quantify the magnitude of the dynamical fluctuations in event-by-event measurements of the $K\pi$, $p\pi$, and $Kp$ pairs. The energy dependences of these fluctuations from central 0-5\% Au+Au collisions all demonstrate a smooth evolution with collision energy.
$p\pi$, Kp, and $K\pi$ fluctuations as a function of collision energy, expressed as $v_{dyn,p\pi}$, $v_{dyn,Kp}$, and $v_{dyn,K\pi}$ respectively. Shown are data from central (0-5%) Au+Au collisions at energies from $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 7.7 to 200 GeV from the STAR experiment.
We report the beam energy (\sqrt s_{NN} = 7.7 - 200 GeV) and collision centrality dependence of the mean (M), standard deviation (\sigma), skewness (S), and kurtosis (\kappa) of the net-proton multiplicity distributions in Au+Au collisions. The measurements are carried out by the STAR experiment at midrapidity (|y| < 0.5) and within the transverse momentum range 0.4 < pT < 0.8 GeV/c in the first phase of the Beam Energy Scan program at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. These measurements are important for understanding the Quantum Chromodynamic (QCD) phase diagram. The products of the moments, S\sigma and \kappa\sigma^{2}, are sensitive to the correlation length of the hot and dense medium created in the collisions and are related to the ratios of baryon number susceptibilities of corresponding orders. The products of moments are found to have values significantly below the Skellam expectation and close to expectations based on independent proton and anti-proton production. The measurements are compared to a transport model calculation to understand the effect of acceptance and baryon number conservation, and also to a hadron resonance gas model.
$\Delta N_p$ multiplicity distributions in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{S_{NN}}=7.7$ GeV for 0-5 percent, 30-40 percent and 70-80 percent collision centralities at midrapidity.
$\Delta N_p$ multiplicity distributions in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{S_{NN}}=11.5$ GeV for 0-5 percent, 30-40 percent and 70-80 percent collision centralities at midrapidity.
$\Delta N_p$ multiplicity distributions in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{S_{NN}}=19.6$ GeV for 0-5 percent, 30-40 percent and 70-80 percent collision centralities at midrapidity.
The STAR collaboration presents for the first time two-dimensional di-hadron correlations with identified leading hadrons in 200 GeV central Au+Au and minimum-bias d+Au collisions to explore hadronization mechanisms in the quark gluon plasma. The enhancement of the jet-like yield for leading pions in Au+Au data with respect to the d+Au reference and the absence of such an enhancement for leading non-pions (protons and kaons) are discussed within the context of a quark recombination scenario. The correlated yield at large angles, specifically in the \emph{ridge region}, is found to be significantly higher for leading non-pions than pions. The consistencies of the constituent quark scaling, azimuthal harmonic model and a mini-jet modification model description of the data are tested, providing further constraints on hadronization.
Two-dimensional $\Delta\phi$ vs. $\Delta\eta$ correlation functions for charged hadron triggers from minimum-bias d+Au data at 200 GeV. All trigger and associated charged hadrons are selected in the respective pT ranges 4 < $p_T^{trig}$ < 5 GeV/c and 1.5 < $p_T^{assoc}$ < 4 GeV/c.
Two-dimensional $\Delta\phi$ vs. $\Delta\eta$ correlation functions for charged hadron triggers from 0-10% most-central Au+Au data at 200 GeV. All trigger and associated charged hadrons are selected in the respective pT ranges 4 < $p_T^{trig}$ < 5 GeV/c and 1.5 < $p_T^{assoc}$ < 4 GeV/c.
Two-dimensional $\Delta\phi$ vs. $\Delta\eta$ correlation functions for non-pion triggers from minimum-bias d+Au data at 200 GeV. All trigger and associated charged hadrons are selected in the respective pT ranges 4 < $p_T^{trig}$ < 5 GeV/c and 1.5 < $p_T^{assoc}$ < 4 GeV/c.
Local parity-odd domains are theorized to form inside a Quark-Gluon-Plasma (QGP) which has been produced in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. The local parity-odd domains manifest themselves as charge separation along the magnetic field axis via the chiral magnetic effect (CME). The experimental observation of charge separation has previously been reported for heavy-ion collisions at the top RHIC energies. In this paper, we present the results of the beam-energy dependence of the charge correlations in Au+Au collisions at midrapidity for center-of-mass energies of 7.7, 11.5, 19.6, 27, 39 and 62.4 GeV from the STAR experiment. After background subtraction, the signal gradually reduces with decreased beam energy, and tends to vanish by 7.7 GeV. The implications of these results for the CME will be discussed.
The three-point correlator, $\gamma$, as a function of centrality for Au+Au collisions at 62.4 GeV.
The three-point correlator, $\gamma$, as a function of centrality for Au+Au collisions at 39 GeV.
The three-point correlator, $\gamma$, as a function of centrality for Au+Au collisions at 27 GeV.
We present $\Lambda\Lambda$ correlation measurements in heavy-ion collisions for Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}= 200$ GeV using the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC). The Lednick\'{y}-Lyuboshitz analytical model has been used to fit the data to obtain a source size, a scattering length and an effective range. Implications of the measurement of the $\Lambda\Lambda$ correlation function and interaction parameters for di-hyperon searches are discussed.
The invariant mass distribution for $\Lambda$ and $\bar{\Lambda}$ produced in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV, for 0-80% centrality. The $\Lambda$ and $\bar{\Lambda}$ candidates lying in the mass range 1.112 to 1.120 GeV/c^2 were selected for the correlation measurement.
The $\Lambda\Lambda$ and $\bar{\Lambda}\bar{\Lambda}$ correlation function in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV, for 0-80% centrality.
The combined $\Lambda\Lambda$ and $\bar{\Lambda}\bar{\Lambda}$ correlation function for 0-80% centrality Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
We report a new high-precision measurement of the mid-rapidity inclusive jet longitudinal double-spin asymmetry, $A_{LL}$, in polarized $pp$ collisions at center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV. The STAR data place stringent constraints on polarized parton distribution functions extracted at next-to-leading order from global analyses of inclusive deep inelastic scattering (DIS), semi-inclusive DIS, and RHIC $pp$ data. The measured asymmetries provide evidence for positive gluon polarization in the Bjorken-$x$ region $x>0.05$.
Jet neutral energy fraction (NEF) comparing data with simulations, where both are calculated with pT subtraction. This plot shows 8.4 < $p_T$ < 9.9 GeV/c.
Jet neutral energy fraction (NEF) comparing data with simulations, where both are calculated with pT subtraction. This plot shows 26.8 < $p_T$ < 31.6 GeV/c.
Inclusive jet $A_{LL}$ vs. parton jet $p_T$ for |eta|<0.5.
A data-driven method was applied to measurements of Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm NN}}} =$ 200 GeV made with the STAR detector at RHIC to isolate pseudorapidity distance $\Delta\eta$-dependent and $\Delta\eta$-independent correlations by using two- and four-particle azimuthal cumulant measurements. We identified a component of the correlation that is $\Delta\eta$-independent, which is likely dominated by anisotropic flow and flow fluctuations. It was also found to be independent of $\eta$ within the measured range of pseudorapidity $|\eta|<1$. The relative flow fluctuation was found to be $34\% \pm 2\% (stat.) \pm 3\% (sys.)$ for particles of transverse momentum $p_{T}$ less than $2$ GeV/$c$. The $\Delta\eta$-dependent part may be attributed to nonflow correlations, and is found to be $5\% \pm 2\% (sys.)$ relative to the flow of the measured second harmonic cumulant at $|\Delta\eta| > 0.7$.
The second harmonic two-particle cumulants for ($\eta_{\alpha}$, $\eta_{\beta}$ pairs for 20-30% central Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
The third harmonic two-particle cumulants for ($\eta_{\alpha}$, $\eta_{\beta}$ pairs for 20-30% central Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
The second harmonic four-particle cumulant for ($\eta_{\alpha}$, $\eta_{\alpha}$, $\eta_{\beta}$, $\eta_{\beta}$) quadruplets for 20-30% central Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
We present measurements of elliptic flow ($v_2$) of electrons from the decays of heavy-flavor hadrons ($e_{HF}$) by the STAR experiment. For Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = $ 200 GeV we report $v_2$, for transverse momentum ($p_T$) between 0.2 and 7 GeV/c using three methods: the event plane method ($v_{2}${EP}), two-particle correlations ($v_2${2}), and four-particle correlations ($v_2${4}). For Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 62.4 and 39 GeV we report $v_2${2} for $p_T< 2$ GeV/c. $v_2${2} and $v_2${4} are non-zero at low and intermediate $p_T$ at 200 GeV, and $v_2${2} is consistent with zero at low $p_T$ at other energies. The $v_2${2} at the two lower beam energies is systematically lower than at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = $ 200 GeV for $p_T < 1$ GeV/c. This difference may suggest that charm quarks interact less strongly with the surrounding nuclear matter at those two lower energies compared to $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 200$ GeV.
Signal-to-background (S/B) ratio as a function of transverse momentum, Au+Au 200 GeV, 0-60% central events with minimum bias trigger
Signal-to-background (S/B) ratio as a function of transverse momentum, Au+Au 200 GeV, 0-60% central events with with High Tower (high pT) trigger
Signal-to-background (S/B) ratio as a function of transverse momentum, Au+Au 39 GeV, 0-60% central events with minimum bias trigger
Rapidity-odd directed flow($v_1$) measurements for charged pions, protons and antiprotons near mid-rapidity ($y=0$) are reported in $\sqrt{s_{NN}} =$ 7.7, 11.5, 19.6, 27, 39, 62.4 and 200 GeV Au + Au collisions as recorded by the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). At intermediate impact parameters, the proton and net-proton slope parameter $dv_1/dy|_{y=0}$ shows a minimum between 11.5 and 19.6 GeV. In addition, the net-proton $dv_1/dy|_{y=0}$ changes sign twice between 7.7 and 39 GeV. The proton and net-proton results qualitatively resemble predictions of a hydrodynamic model with a first-order phase transition from hadronic matter to deconfined matter, and differ from hadronic transport calculations.
Directed flow for protons versus rapidity for central (0-10$\%$), intermediate-centrality (10-40$\%$) and peripheral (40-80$\%$) Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 39, 27, 19.6, 11.5 and 7.7 GeV. Errors are statistical only.
Directed flow for $\pi^{-}$ versus rapidity for central (0-10$\%$), intermediate-centrality (10-40$\%$) and peripheral (40-80$\%$) Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 39, 27, 19.6, 11.5 and 7.7 GeV. Errors are statistical only.
Directed flow for protons and anti-protons versus rapidity for intermediate-centrality (10-40$\%$) Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200, 62.4, 39, 27, 19.6, 11.5 and 7.7 GeV. Errors are statistical only.