Heavy quarkonia are observed to be suppressed in relativistic heavy ion collisions relative to their production in p+p collisions scaled by the number of binary collisions. In order to determine if this suppression is related to color screening of these states in the produced medium, one needs to account for other nuclear modifications including those in cold nuclear matter. In this paper, we present new measurements from the PHENIX 2007 data set of J/psi yields at forward rapidity (1.2<|y|<2.2) in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV. The data confirm the earlier finding that the suppression of J/psi at forward rapidity is stronger than at midrapidity, while also extending the measurement to finer bins in collision centrality and higher transverse momentum (pT). We compare the experimental data to the most recent theoretical calculations that incorporate a variety of physics mechanisms including gluon saturation, gluon shadowing, initial-state parton energy loss, cold nuclear matter breakup, color screening, and charm recombination. We find J/psi suppression beyond cold-nuclear-matter effects. However, the current level of disagreement between models and d+Au data precludes using these models to quantify the hot-nuclear-matter suppression.
J/psi invariant yield in Au+Au collisions as a function of $N_{part}$ at forward rapidity ($p_{T}$ integrated). The statistical and systematic uncertainties vary point-to-point and are listed for each measured value. An additional global systematic uncertainty is provided in each column heading, which applies to all data points per column.
J/psi nuclear modification $R_{AA}$ in Au+Au collisions as a function of $N_{part}$ at forward rapidity ($p_T$ integrated). The statistical and systematic uncertainties vary point-to-point and are listed for each measured value. An additional global systematic uncertainty is provided in each column heading, which applies to all data points per column.
J/psi invariant yield in Au+Au collisions as a function of transverse momentum for the 0-20% centrality class at forward rapidity. The statistical and systematic uncertainties vary point-to-point and are listed for each measured value. An additional global systematic uncertainty is provided in each column heading, which applies to all data points per column.
Measurements of double-helicity asymmetries for inclusive hadron production in polarized p+p collisions are sensitive to helicity--dependent parton distribution functions, in particular to the gluon helicity distribution, Delta(g). This study focuses on the extraction of the double-helicity asymmetry in eta production: polarized p+p --> eta + X, the eta cross section, and the eta/pi^0 cross section ratio. The cross section and ratio measurements provide essential input for the extraction of fragmentation functions that are needed to access the helicity-dependent parton distribution functions.
Cross section ratio for the midrapidity production of inclusive $\eta$ to $\pi^0$ mesons at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV as a function of $p_T$. The error bars show the statistical and systematic uncertainties added in quadrature. The solid curve shows the ratio of the NLO pQCD calculations shown in Fig. 3 and the corresponding one for the $\pi^0$. The dashed curve shows the result of a PYTHIA Monte-Carlo simulation.
Double helicity asymmetry for midrapidity inclusive $\eta$ production from the combined 2005 and 2006 data at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV as a function of $p_T$. An additional 4.8% systematic uncertainty in the beam polarizations is not shown.
Direct photons have been measured in sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV d+Au collisions at midrapidity. A wide p_T range is covered by measurements of nearly-real virtual photons (1<p_T<6 GeV/c) and real photons (5<p_T<16 GeV/c). The invariant yield of the direct photons in d+Au collisions over the scaled p+p cross section is consistent with unity. Theoretical calculations assuming standard cold nuclear matter effects describe the data well for the entire p_T range. This indicates that the large enhancement of direct photons observed in Au+Au collisions for 1.0<p_T<2.5 GeV/c is due to a source other than the initial-state nuclear effects.
$R_{dA}$ ($d$+Au data/scaled $p+p$ fit). Nuclear modification factor for $d$+Au, $R_{dA}$, as a function of $p_{T}$ . The closed and open symbols show the results from the virtual- and real-photon measurements, respectively. The values in the table are equal to this mean value. The bars and bands represent the point-to-point (ptp.) and $p_{T}$-correlated (cor.) uncertainties, respectively. The box on the right shows the uncertainty of $T_{dA}$ for $d$+Au. The curves indicate the theoretical calculations [24] with different combinations of the CNM effects such as the Cronin enhancement, isospin effect, nuclear shadowing and initial state energy loss.
The energy dependence of the single-transverse-spin asymmetry, A_N, and the cross section for neutron production at very forward angles were measured in the PHENIX experiment at RHIC for polarized p+p collisions at sqrt(s)=200 GeV. The neutrons were observed in forward detectors covering an angular range of up to 2.2 mrad. We report results for neutrons with momentum fraction of x_F=0.45 to 1.0. The energy dependence of the measured cross sections were consistent with x_F scaling, compared to measurements by an ISR experiment which measured neutron production in unpolarized p+p collisions at sqrt(s)=30.6--62.7 GeV. The cross sections for large x_F neutron production for p+p collisions, as well as those in e+p collisions measured at HERA, are described by a pion exchange mechanism. The observed forward neutron asymmetries were large, reaching A_N=-0.08+/-0.02 for x_F=0.8; the measured backward asymmetries, for negative x_F, were consistent with zero. The observed asymmetry for forward neutron production is discussed within the pion exchange framework, with interference between the spin-flip amplitude due to the pion exchange and nonflip amplitudes from all Reggeon exchanges. Within the pion exchange description, the measured neutron asymmetry is sensitive to the contribution of other Reggeon exchanges even for small amplitudes.
The cross section results for forward neutron production in $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV are shown. Two different forms, exponential and Gaussian, were used for the $p_T$ distribution. The integrated $p_T$ region for each bin is 0 < $p_T$ < 0.11$x_F$ GeV/$c$.
The $x_F$ dependence of $A_N$ for neutron production in the ZDC trigger sample.
The $x_F$ dependence of $A_N$ for neutron production for the ZDC$\otimes$BBC trigger sample.
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.
The differential cross section for the production of direct photons in p+p collisions at sqrt(s)=200 GeV at midrapidity was measured in the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Inclusive-direct photons were measured in the transverse-momentum range from 5.5--25 GeV/c, extending the range beyond previous measurements. Event structure was studied with an isolation criterion. Next-to-leading-order perturbative-quantum-chromodynamics calculations give a good description of the spectrum. When the cross section is expressed versus x_T, the PHENIX data are seen to be in agreement with measurements from other experiments at different center-of-mass energies.
Cross section of midrapidity inclusive-direct photon production in $p+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV as a function of transverse momentum ($p_T$). Asymmetric statistical uncertainties occur in $p_T$ bins with no tagged $π^0$ counts.
The PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) has measured omega meson production via leptonic and hadronic decay channels in p+p, d+Au, Cu+Cu, and Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. The invariant transverse momentum spectra measured in different decay modes give consistent results. Measurements in the hadronic decay channel in Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions show that omega production has a suppression pattern at high transverse momentum, similar to that of pi^0 and eta in central collisions, but no suppression is observed in peripheral collisions. The nuclear modification factors, R_AA, are consistent in Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at similar numbers of participant nucleons.
Invariant transverse momentum spectra of $\omega$ production in $p$+$p$ and $d$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=200 GeV.
Invariant transverse momentum spectra of $\omega$ production in $p$+$p$ and $d$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=200 GeV.
Invariant transverse momentum spectra of $\omega$ production in $p$+$p$ and $d$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=200 GeV.
Transverse momentum distributions and yields for $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, $p$ and $\bar{p}$ in $p+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=200 and 62.4 GeV at midrapidity are measured by the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). These data provide important baseline spectra for comparisons with identified particle spectra in heavy ion collisions at RHIC. We present the inverse slope parameter $T_{\rm inv}$, mean transverse momentum $<p_T>$ and yield per unit rapidity $dN/dy$ at each energy, and compare them to other measurements at different $\sqrt{s}$ in $p+p$ and $p+\bar{p}$ collisions. We also present the scaling properties such as $m_T$ scaling, $x_T$ scaling on the $p_T$ spectra between different energies. To discuss the mechanism of the particle production in $p+p$ collisions, the measured spectra are compared to next-to-leading-order or next-to-leading-logarithmic perturbative quantum chromodynamics calculations.
Invariant cross sections for inclusive PI+ and PI- production in P P collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 200 GeV. There is an additional normalization uncertainty of 9.7 PCT.
Invariant cross sections for inclusive K+ and K- production in P P collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 200 GeV. There is an additional normalization uncertainty of 9.7 PCT.
Invariant cross sections for inclusive P and PBAR production in P P collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 200 GeV with feed-down weak decay corrections NOT applied. There is an additional normalization uncertainty of 9.7 PCT.
The PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider has measured the invariant differential cross section for production of K^0_S , \omega, \eta prime, and \phi mesons in p + p collisions at = 200 GeV. Measurements \omega and \phi production in different decay channels give consistent results. New results for the \phi are in agreement with previously published data and extend the measured pT coverage. The spectral shapes of all hadron transverse momentum distributions measured by PHENIX are well described by a Tsallis distribution functional form with only two parameters, n and T, determining the high-pT and characterizing the low-pT regions of the spectra, respectively. The values of these parameters are very similar for all analyzed meson spectra, but with a lower parameter T extracted for protons. The integrated invariant cross sections calculated from the fitted distributions are found to be consistent with existing measurements and with statistical model predictions.
The invariant differential cross section ${d^2 \sigma}$/${2\pi p_T dy p_T}$ of $\omega$ meson production measured in the indicated decay channel. Type A uncertainties are $p_T$ independent. Type C & B systematic uncertainties are residual with Type B having an unknown $p_T$ dependence. For each $y$-coordinate in each $p_T$ bin was varied by the same amount according to the uncertainty Type C.
The invariant differential cross section ${d^2 \sigma}$/${2\pi p_T dy p_T}$ of $\omega$ meson production measured in the indicated decay channel. Type A uncertainties are $p_T$ independent. Type C & B systematic uncertainties are residual with Type B having an unknown $p_T$ dependence. For each $y$-coordinate in each $p_T$ bin was varied by the same amount according to the uncertainty Type C.
The invariant differential cross section ${d^2 \sigma}$/${2\pi p_T dy p_T}$ of $\omega$ meson production measured in the indicated decay channel. Type A uncertainties are $p_T$ independent. Type C & B systematic uncertainties are residual with Type B having an unknown $p_T$ dependence. For each $y$-coordinate in each $p_T$ bin was varied by the same amount according to the uncertainty Type C.
The PHENIX experiment presents results from the RHIC 2006 run with polarized proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 62.4 GeV for inclusive pi^0 production at mid-rapidity. Unpolarized cross section results are measured for transverse momenta p_T = 0.5 to 7 GeV/c. Next-to-leading order perturbative quantum chromodynamics calculations are compared with the data, and while the calculations are consistent with the measurements, next-to-leading logarithmic corrections improve the agreement. Double helicity asymmetries A_LL are presented for p_T = 1 to 4 GeV/c and probe the higher range of Bjorken_x of the gluon (x_g) with better statistical precision than our previous measurements at sqrt(s)=200 GeV. These measurements are sensitive to the gluon polarization in the proton for 0.06 < x_g < 0.4.
The neutral pion production cross section at $\sqrt{s}$ = 62.4 GeV as a function of $p_T$ and the results of next-to-leading order (NLO) and next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy (NLL) perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics (pQCD) calculations for the theory scale $\mu$ = $p_T$.
The double helicity asymmetry for neutral pion production at $\sqrt{s}$ = 62.4 GeV as a function $p_T$ (GeV/$c$). Error bars are statistical uncertainties. The point-to-point experimental systematic uncertainties are negligible. Not included in the figure/table are the correlated for all points scale systematic uncertainty of 14% (scales both the values and point-to-point uncertainties by the same factor).
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