The extreme temperatures and energy densities generated by ultra-relativistic collisions between heavy nuclei produce a state of matter with surprising fluid properties. Non-central collisions have angular momentum on the order of 1000$\hbar$, and the resulting fluid may have a strong vortical structure that must be understood to properly describe the fluid. It is also of particular interest because the restoration of fundamental symmetries of quantum chromodynamics is expected to produce novel physical effects in the presence of strong vorticity. However, no experimental indications of fluid vorticity in heavy ion collisions have so far been found. Here we present the first measurement of an alignment between the angular momentum of a non-central collision and the spin of emitted particles, revealing that the fluid produced in heavy ion collisions is by far the most vortical system ever observed. We find that $\Lambda$ and $\overline{\Lambda}$ hyperons show a positive polarization of the order of a few percent, consistent with some hydrodynamic predictions. A previous measurement that reported a null result at higher collision energies is seen to be consistent with the trend of our new observations, though with larger statistical uncertainties. These data provide the first experimental access to the vortical structure of the "perfect fluid" created in a heavy ion collision. They should prove valuable in the development of hydrodynamic models that quantitatively connect observations to the theory of the Strong Force. Our results extend the recent discovery of hydrodynamic spin alignment to the subatomic realm.
Lambda and AntiLambda polarization as a function of collision energy. A 0.8% error on the alpha value used in the paper is corrected in this table. Systematic error bars include those associated with particle identification (negligible), uncertainty in the value of the hyperon decay parameter (2%) and reaction plane resolution (2%) and detector efficiency corrections (4%). The dominant systematic error comes from statistical fluctuations of the estimated combinatoric background under the (anti-)$\Lambda$ mass peak.
Lambda and AntiLambda polarization as a function of collision energy calculated using the new $\alpha_\Lambda=0.732$ updated on PDG2020. Systematic error bars include those associated with particle identification (negligible), uncertainty in the value of the hyperon decay parameter (2%) and reaction plane resolution (2%) and detector efficiency corrections (4%). The dominant systematic error comes from statistical fluctuations of the estimated combinatoric background under the (anti-)$\Lambda$ mass peak.
The Collins and Sivers asymmetries for charged hadrons produced in deeply inelastic scattering on transversely polarised protons have been extracted from the data collected in 2007 with the CERN SPS muon beam tuned at 160 GeV/c. At large values of the Bjorken x variable non-zero Collins asymmetries are observed both for positive and negative hadrons while the Sivers asymmetry for positive hadrons is slightly positive over almost all the measured x range. These results nicely support the present theoretical interpretation of these asymmetries, in terms of leading-twist quark distribution and fragmentation functions.
The COLLINS asymmetry for positively charged hadrons as a function of X.
The COLLINS asymmetry for positively charged hadrons as a function of Z.
The COLLINS asymmetry for positively charged hadrons as a function of PT.
The longitudinal polarisation transfer from muons to lambda and anti-lambda hyperons, D_LL, has been studied in deep inelastic scattering off an unpolarised isoscalar target at the COMPASS experiment at CERN. The spin transfers to lambda and anti-lambda produced in the current fragmentation region exhibit different behaviours as a function of x and xF . The measured x and xF dependences of D^lambda_LL are compatible with zero, while D^anti-lambda_LL tends to increase with xF, reaching values of 0.4 - 0.5. The resulting average values are D^lambda_LL = -0.012 +- 0.047 +- 0.024 and D^anti-lambda_LL = 0.249 +- 0.056 +- 0.049. These results are discussed in the frame of recent model calculations.
The weighted average of the spin transfers for the 2003 and 2004 data.
The XL dependence of the spin transfer from muons to the LAMBDA hyperon.
The X dependence of the spin transfer from muons to the LAMBDA hyperon.
We show that Σ+ hyperons produced by 800 GeV/c protons on targets of Be and Cu have significant polarizations (15–20%). These polarizations persist at values of pt≈2 GeV/c and a wide range of xF. The polarizations from the Cu target are consistently less than from Be. The average ratio of the Σ+ polarization from Cu to that from Be is 0.68±0.08.
Measured values of the SIGMA+ polarization as functions of PT and XL for proton CU collisions.
Measured values of the SIGMA+ polarization as functions of PT and XL for proton BE collisions.
The$\tau$polarisation has been studied with the${\rm e^+e^-}\to \tau^+\tau^-$data collected by the DELPHI detector at LEP in
The errors are statistical and systematic combined in quadrature.
No description provided.
A nonzero difference of the analyzing powers due to charge symmetry breaking has been measured with high precision in np elastic scattering at a neutron beam energy of 347 MeV. The neutron beam and proton target were alternately polarized for the measurements of An and Ap. A mirror-symmetric detection system was used to cancel geometry-related systematic errors. From fits of the measured asymmetry angular distributions over the range of 53.4°<~θcm<~86.9°, the difference in the zero-crossing angles of the analyzing powers was determined to be 0.438°±0.054°(stat.)±0.051°(syst.) in the center-of-mass system. Using the experimentally determined slope of the analyzing power dA/dθ=(−1.35±0.05)×10−2 deg−1 (c.m.), this is equivalent to ΔA≡An−Ap=[59±7(stat.)±7(syst.)±2(syst.)]×10−4. The shape of ΔA(θ) in the vicinity of the zero-crossing angle has also been extracted. Predictions of nucleon-nucleon interaction models based on meson exchange agree well with the results.
(C=N) or (C=P) stands for polarized beam or target.
The angles at which the n-p elastic scattering neutron analyzing power A00n0 crosses zero were measured with precision at four TRIUMF energies below 300 MeV. The mean interaction energies are also measured with greater precision than in previous experiments. The results are En=175.26±0.23 MeV, θzx=98.48°±0.28°; En=203.15±0.20 MeV, θzx=91.31°±0.18°; En=217.24±0.19 MeV, θzx=87.64°±0.18°; and En=261.00±0.16 MeV, θzx=80.18°±0.19°. After correction for charge symmetry breaking effects, the energy where the averaged neutron-proton analyzing power crosses zero at θzx=90° is found to be En=206.8±0.6 MeV. © 1996 The American Physical Society.
Polarized beam and target.
Polarized beam and target.
Polarized beam and target.
A sample of Z0→τ+τ− events observed in the DELPHI detector at LEP in 1991 and 1992 is analysed to measure the τ polarisation in the exclusive decay channels\(ev\bar v\),\(\mu v\bar v\), πν, ρν and a1ν. The τ polarisation is also measured with an inclusive hadronic analysis which benefits from a higher efficiency and a better systematic precision than the use of the exclusive decay modes. The results have been combined with those published on the 1990 data. A measurement of the τ polarisation as a function of production angle yields the values for the mean τ polarisation 〈P〉τ=−0.148±0.022 and for the Z0 polarisationPZ=−0.136±0.027. These results are used to determine the ratio of vector to axial-vector effective couplings for taus\(\bar v_\tau/\bar a_\tau= 0.074 \pm 0.011\), and for electrons\(\bar v_e /\bar a_e= 0.068 \pm 0.014\), compatible with e-τ universality. With the assumption of lepton universality, the ratio of vector to axial-vector effective couplings for leptons\(\bar v_l /\bar a_l= 0.072 \pm 0.008\) is obtained, implying a value of the effective weak mixing angle sin2θefflept=0.2320±0.0021.
Results are for both TAU+ and TAU- decay.
The systematic error contains a systematic error of 0.003 common to all channels.
Errors are statistical only.
We have measured angular distributions of differential cross sections and analyzing powers ( A y ) of the reaction p p → d π + at six incident proton energies between 1.3 and 2.4 GeV. They confirm the rapid variations at √ s = 2.65 GeV suggested by earlier experiments. Deviations from a monotonic behavior are also found in the excitation functions of the differential cross section at t = 0 or where Θ π + (c.m.) = 0°. Structures clearly appear at √ s = 2.4 and 2.65 GeV, in some coefficients of the associated Legendre function expansions of A y .
No description provided.
No description provided.
No description provided.
We have measured the polarization of D*, the energy dependence of the polarization, and the spin-density matrix of D* in e+e− annihilation at a center-of-mass energy of 29 GeV using the Time Projection Chamber detector at the SLAC storage ring PEP. In 147 pb−1 of data we see no strong evidence for polarization, alignment, or final-state interactions in this fragmentation process.
Polarization is the factor alpha(z) in the expression d width (D*-->D pi)/domega = C(1+alpha(z)cos(theta)**2).
Spin density matrices for D* --> D0 pi+.
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