We report the first measurement of the parity violating single-spin asymmetries for midrapidity decay positrons and electrons from $W^{+}$ and $W^{-}$ boson production in longitudinally polarized proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=500 $GeV by the STAR experiment at RHIC. The measured asymmetries, $A^{W^+}_{L}=-0.27\pm 0.10\/({\rm stat.})\pm 0.02\/({\rm syst.}) \pm 0.03\/({\rm norm.})$ and $A^{W^-}_{L}=0.14\pm 0.19\/({\rm stat.})\pm 0.02 \/({\rm syst.})\pm 0.01\/({\rm norm.})$, are consistent with theory predictions, which are large and of opposite sign. These predictions are based on polarized quark and antiquark distribution functions constrained by polarized DIS measurements.
$E^e_T$ for W+ (bottom) and W− (top) events showing the candidate histograms in black, the full background estimates in blue and the signal distributions in yellow.
$E^e_T$ for W+ (bottom) and W− (top) events showing the candidate histograms in black, the full background estimates in blue and the signal distributions in yellow.
Longitudinal single-spin asymmetry, AL, for W± events as a function of the leptonic pseudorapidity, $\eta_e$, for 25 < $E^e_T$ < 50 GeV in comparison to theory predictions
Large parity violating longitudinal single spin asymmetries A^{e^-}_L= -0.86^{+0.14}_{-0.30} and A^{e^+}_L= 0.88^{+0.12}_{-0.71} are observed for inclusive high transverse momentum electrons and positrons in polarized pp collisions at a center of mass energy of \sqrt{s}=500\ GeV with the PHENIX detector at RHIC. These e^{+/-} come mainly from the decay of W^{+/-} and Z^0 bosons, and the asymmetries directly demonstrate parity violation in the couplings of the W^{\pm} to the light quarks. The observed electron and positron yields were used to estimate W^\pm boson production cross sections equal to \sigma(pp \to W^+ X) \times BR(W^ \to \nu_e)= 144.1+/-21.2(stat)^{+3.4}_{-10.3}(syst) +/- 15%(norm) pb, and \sigma(pp \to W^{-}X) \times BR(W^\to e^-\bar{\nu_e}) = 31.7+/-12.1(stat)^{+10.1}_{-8.2}(syst)+/-15%(norm) pb.
The spectra of positive and negative candidates before and after an isolation cut. The computation of the background before the isolation cut is described in the text. The background band after the isolation cut is computed by scaling the background before the isolation cut by the isolation cut efficiency measured in the background region (12< $p_T$ <20GeV/$c$). The systematic errors include uncertainties in the photon conversion probability, the background normalization, and the background extrapoltion to $p_T$ > 30 GeV/$c$.
Background subtracted spectra of positron candidates taken from all counts compared to the spectrum of W and Z decays from an NLO calculation.
Background subtracted spectra of electron candidates taken from all counts compared to the spectrum of W and Z decays from an NLO calculation.
We report the first measurement of transverse single-spin asymmetries in $J/\psi$ production from transversely polarized $p+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 200$ GeV with data taken by the PHENIX experiment in 2006 and 2008. The measurement was performed over the rapidity ranges $1.2 < |y| < 2.2$ and $ |y| < 0.35$ for transverse momenta up to 6 GeV/$c$. $J/\psi$ production at RHIC is dominated by processes involving initial-state gluons, and transverse single-spin asymmetries of the $J/\psi$ can provide access to gluon dynamics within the nucleon. Such asymmetries may also shed light on the long-standing question in QCD of the $J/\psi$ production mechanism. Asymmetries were obtained as a function of $J/\psi$ transverse momentum and Feynman-$x$, with a value of $-0.086 \pm 0.026^{\rm stat} \pm 0.003^{\rm syst}$ in the forward region. This result suggests possible nonzero trigluon correlation functions in transversely polarized protons and, if well defined in this reaction, a nonzero gluon Sivers distribution function.
Transverse single-spin asymmetry in $J/\psi$ production as a function of $x_F$ for 2006 and 2008 data sets. Systematic uncertainties $\delta$$A^f_N$ Type B and $\delta$$A^P_N$ Type B are due to the geometric scale factor and the polarization, respectively.
Transverse single-spin asymmetry in $J/\psi$ production as a function of $x_F$ for 2006 and 2008 data sets. Systematic uncertainties $\delta$$A^f_N$ Type B and $\delta$$A^P_N$ Type B are due to the geometric scale factor and the polarization, respectively.
Transverse single-spin asymmetry in $J/\psi$ production as a function of $x_F$ for 2006 and 2008 data sets. Systematic uncertainties $\delta$$A^f_N$ Type B and $\delta$$A^P_N$ Type B are due to the geometric scale factor and the polarization, respectively.
Identified charged pion, kaon, and proton spectra are used to explore the system size dependence of bulk freeze-out properties in Cu+Cu collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=200 and 62.4 GeV. The data are studied with hydrodynamically-motivated Blast-wave and statistical model frameworks in order to characterize the freeze-out properties of the system. The dependence of freeze-out parameters on beam energy and collision centrality is discussed. Using the existing results from Au+Au and $pp$ collisions, the dependence of freeze-out parameters on the system size is also explored. This multi-dimensional systematic study furthers our understanding of the QCD phase diagram revealing the importance of the initial geometrical overlap of the colliding ions. The analysis of Cu+Cu collisions, which expands the system size dependence studies from Au+Au data with detailed measurements in the smaller system, shows that the bulk freeze-out properties of charged particles studied here scale with the total charged particle multiplicity at mid-rapidity, suggesting the relevance of initial state effects.
Negatively charged pion spectra from Cu+Cu collisions 200 GeV as a function of pT for different centralities.
Negatively charged pion spectra from Cu+Cu collisions 62.4 GeV as a function of pT for different centralities.
Negatively charged kaon spectra from Cu+Cu collisions 200 GeV as a function of pT for different centralities.
The inclusive charged particle transverse momentum distribution is measured in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 900$ GeV at the LHC using the ALICE detector. The measurement is performed in the central pseudorapidity region $(|\eta|<0.8)$ over the transverse momentum range $0.15<p_{\rm T}<10$ GeV/$c$. The correlation between transverse momentum and particle multiplicity is also studied. Results are presented for inelastic (INEL) and non-single-diffractive (NSD) events. The average transverse momentum for $|\eta|<0.8$ is $\left<p_{\rm T}\right>_{\rm INEL}=0.483\pm0.001$ (stat.) $\pm0.007$ (syst.) GeV/$c$ and $\left<p_{\rm T}\right>_{\rm NSD}=0.489\pm0.001$ (stat.) $\pm0.007$ (syst.) GeV/$c$, respectively. The data exhibit a slightly larger $\left<p_{\rm T}\right>$ than measurements in wider pseudorapidity intervals. The results are compared to simulations with the Monte Carlo event generators PYTHIA and PHOJET.
Average transverse momentum, including extrapolation to PT=0, for inelastic (INEL) events.
Average transverse momentum, including extrapolation to PT=0, for non-single diffractive (NSD) events.
Power law fit to spectrum for PT > 3 GeV.
The contribution of $B$ meson decays to non-photonic electrons, which are mainly produced by the semi-leptonic decays of heavy flavor mesons, in $p+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} =$ 200 GeV has been measured using azimuthal correlations between non-photonic electrons and hadrons. The extracted $B$ decay contribution is approximately 50% at a transverse momentum of $p_{T} \geq 5$ GeV/$c$. These measurements constrain the nuclear modification factor for electrons from $B$ and $D$ meson decays. The result indicates that $B$ meson production in heavy ion collisions is also suppressed at high $p_{T}$.
Distributions of the azimuthal angle between nonphotonic electrons and charged hadrons normalized per nonphotonic electron trigger. The trigger electron has (top) $2.5 < p_{T} < 3.5$ GeV/$c$ and (bottom) $5.5 < p_{T} < 6.5$ GeV/$c$. The curves represent PYTHIA calculations for $D$ (dotted curve) and $B$ (dashed curve) decays. The fit result is shown as the black solid curve.
(a) Background-subtracted invariant mass distribution of $K$ pairs requiring at least one nonphotonic electron trigger in the event. The solid line is a Gaussian fit to the data near the peak region. (b) Distribution of the azimuthal angle between nonphotonic electron (positron) trigger particles and $D^{0}$ ($\bar{D}^{0}$). The solid (dashed) line is a fit of the correlation function from PYTHIA (MC$@$NLO) simulations to the data points.
Transverse momentum dependence of the relative contribution from $B$ mesons ($r_{B}$) to the nonphotonic electron yields. Error bars are statistical and brackets are systematic uncertainties. The solid curve is the FONLL calculation [14]. Theoretical uncertainties are indicated by the dashed curves.
The ratio of the yields of antiprotons to protons in pp collisions has been measured by the ALICE experiment at $\sqrt{s} = 0.9$ and $7$ TeV during the initial running periods of the Large Hadron Collider(LHC). The measurement covers the transverse momentum interval $0.45 < p_{\rm{t}} < 1.05$ GeV/$c$ and rapidity $|y| < 0.5$. The ratio is measured to be $R_{|y| < 0.5} = 0.957 \pm 0.006 (stat.) \pm 0.014 (syst.)$ at $0.9$ TeV and $R_{|y| < 0.5} = 0.991 \pm 0.005 (stat.) \pm 0.014 (syst.)$ at $7$ TeV and it is independent of both rapidity and transverse momentum. The results are consistent with the conventional model of baryon-number transport and set stringent limits on any additional contributions to baryon-number transfer over very large rapidity intervals in pp collisions.
The PT dependence of the pbar/p ratio for the central rapidity region ABS(YRAP)<0.5.
The central rapidity pbar/p ratio as a function of the rapidity interval Ybeam-Ybaryon and centre-of-mass energy. As well as the present ALICE measurements this table also lists the values from other experiments (see the text of the paper for details).
We report on K*0 production at mid-rapidity in Au+Au and Cu+Cu collisions at \sqrt{s_{NN}} = 62.4 and 200 GeV collected by the Solenoid Tracker at RHIC (STAR) detector. The K*0 is reconstructed via the hadronic decays K*0 \to K+ pi- and \bar{K*0} \to K-pi+. Transverse momentum, pT, spectra are measured over a range of pT extending from 0.2 GeV/c to 5 GeV/c. The center of mass energy and system size dependence of the rapidity density, dN/dy, and the average transverse momentum, <pT>, are presented. The measured N(K*0)/N(K) and N(\phi)/N(K*0) ratios favor the dominance of re-scattering of decay daughters of K*0 over the hadronic regeneration for the K*0 production. In the intermediate pT region (2.0 < pT < 4.0 GeV/c), the elliptic flow parameter, v2, and the nuclear modification factor, RCP, agree with the expectations from the quark coalescence model of particle production.
The K$\pi$ pair invariant mass distribution integrated over the $K^{*0}$ $p_T$ for minimum bias Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ =200 GeV after mixed-event background subtraction.
The K$\pi$ pair invariant mass distribution integrated over the $K^{*0}$ $p_T$ for minimum bias Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ =62.4 GeV after mixed-event background subtraction.
The K$\pi$ pair invariant mass distribution integrated over the $K^{*0}$ $p_T$ for minimum bias Cu+Cu collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ =200 GeV after mixed-event background subtraction.
We have measured the azimuthal anisotropy of pi0's for 1 < pT < 18 GeV/c for Au+Au collisions at sqrt s_NN = 200 GeV. The observed anisotropy shows a gradual decrease in 3 < pT < 7 - 10 GeV/c, but remains positive beyond 10 GeV/c. The magnitude of this anisotropy is under-predicted, up to at least 10 GeV/c, by current perturbative QCD (pQCD) energy-loss model calculations. An estimate of the increase in anisotropy expected from initial-geometry modification due to gluon saturation effects and initial-geometry fluctuations is insufficient to account for this discrepancy. Calculations which implement a path length dependence steeper than what is implied by current pQCD energy-loss models, show reasonable agreement with the data.
$\pi^0$ $v_2$ using the reaction plane determined with MPC and RXN$_{in}$ combined as a function of $p_T$ for different centralities.
Ratios of $v_2$ measured separately using MPC and RXN$_{in}$ to combine results.
$v_2$ vs $N_{part}$ in two $p_T$ ranges and $R_{AA}$ vs $N_{part}$ in the same $p_T$ ranges.
Charged-hadron transverse-momentum and pseudorapidity distributions in proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV are measured with the inner tracking system of the CMS detector at the LHC. The charged-hadron yield is obtained by counting the number of reconstructed hits, hit-pairs, and fully reconstructed charged-particle tracks. The combination of the three methods gives a charged-particle multiplicity per unit of pseudorapidity, dN(charged)/d(eta), for |eta| < 0.5, of 5.78 +/- 0.01 (stat) +/- 0.23 (syst) for non-single-diffractive events, higher than predicted by commonly used models. The relative increase in charged-particle multiplicity from sqrt(s) = 0.9 to 7 TeV is 66.1% +/- 1.0% (stat) +/- 4.2% (syst). The mean transverse momentum is measured to be 0.545 +/- 0.005 (stat) +/- 0.015 (syst) GeV/c. The results are compared with similar measurements at lower energies.
Measured differential yield of charged hadrons as a function oftransverse momentum for pseudorapidities 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 for centre-of-mass energy 7000 GeV.Errors are statistical and systematic added in quadrature.
Measured differential yield of charged hadrons as a function oftransverse momentum for pseudorapidities 0.9, 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5 for centre-of-mass energy 7000 GeV.Errors are statistical and systematic added in quadrature.
Measured differential yield of charged hadrons as a function oftransverse momentum for pseudorapidities 1.7, 1.9, 2.1 and 2.3 for centre-of-mass energy 7000 GeV.Errors are statistical and systematic added in quadrature.