Correlations between event-by-event fluctuations of anisotropic flow harmonics are measured in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 5.02 TeV, as recorded by the ALICE detector at the LHC. This study presents correlations up to the hexagonal flow harmonic, $v_6$, which was measured for the first time. The magnitudes of these higher-order correlations are found to vary as a function of collision centrality and harmonic order. These measurements are compared to viscous hydrodynamic model calculations with EKRT initial conditions and to the iEBE-VISHNU model with TRENTo initial conditions. The observed discrepancies between the data and the model calculations vary depending on the harmonic combinations. Due to the sensitivity of model parameters estimated with Bayesian analyses to these higher-order observables, the results presented in this work provide new and independent constraints on the initial conditions and transport properties in theoretical models used to describe the system created in heavy-ion collisions.
NSC(5,2) vs centrality in Pb-Pb collisions at 5.02 TeV
NSC(5,3) vs centrality in Pb-Pb collisions at 5.02 TeV
NSC(6,2) vs centrality in Pb-Pb collisions at 5.02 TeV
The correlations between different moments of two flow amplitudes, extracted with the recently developed asymmetric cumulants, are measured in Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV recorded by the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The magnitudes of the measured observables show a dependence on the different moments as well as on the collision centrality, indicating the presence of non-linear response in all even moments up to the eighth. Furthermore, the higher-order asymmetric cumulants show different signatures than the symmetric and lower-order asymmetric cumulants. Comparisons with state-of-the-art event generators using two different parametrizations obtained from Bayesian optimization show differences between data and simulations in many of the studied observables, indicating a need for further tuning of the models behind those event generators. These results provide new and independent constraints on the initial conditions and transport properties of the system created in heavy-ion collisions.
Centrality dependence of ${\rm SC}(2,3)$ in Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV.
Centrality dependence of ${\rm AC}_{2,1}(2,3)$ in Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV.
Centrality dependence of ${\rm AC}_{1,2}(2,3)$ in Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV.
The first measurements of $\mathrm{K^{*}(892)^{0}}$ resonance production as a function of charged-particle multiplicity in Xe$-$Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}=$ 5.44 TeV and pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=$ 5.02 TeV using the ALICE detector are presented. The resonance is reconstructed at midrapidity ($|y|< 0.5$) using the hadronic decay channel $\mathrm{K^{*0}} \rightarrow \mathrm{K^{\pm} \pi^{\mp}}$. Measurements of transverse-momentum integrated yield, mean transverse-momentum, nuclear modification factor of $\mathrm{K^{*0}}$, and yield ratios of resonance to stable hadron ($\mathrm{K^{*0}}$/K) are compared across different collision systems (pp, p$-$Pb, Xe$-$Xe, and Pb$-$Pb) at similar collision energies to investigate how the production of $\mathrm{K^{*0}}$ resonances depends on the size of the system formed in these collisions. The hadronic rescattering effect is found to be independent of the size of colliding systems and mainly driven by the produced charged-particle multiplicity, which is a proxy of the volume of produced matter at the chemical freeze-out. In addition, the production yields of $\mathrm{K^{*0}}$ in Xe$-$Xe collisions are utilized to constrain the dependence of the kinetic freeze-out temperature on the system size using HRG-PCE model.
$p_{\rm T}$-distributions of $\rm{K}^{*}$ (average of particle and anti-particle) meson measured in pp collisions at \sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 TeV for 0-1\% multiplicity class.
$p_{\rm T}$-distributions of $\rm{K}^{*}$ (average of particle and anti-particle) meson measured in pp collisions at \sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 TeV for 1-5\% multiplicity class.
$p_{\rm T}$-distributions of $\rm{K}^{*}$ (average of particle and anti-particle) meson measured in pp collisions at \sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 TeV for 5-10\% multiplicity class.
Charged-particle jet yields have been measured in semicentral Pb$-$Pb collisions at center-of-mass energy per nucleon-nucleon collision $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. These yields are reported as a function of the jet transverse momentum, and further classified by their angle with respect to the event plane and the event shape, characterized by ellipticity, in an effort to study the path-length dependence of jet quenching. Jets were reconstructed at midrapidity from charged-particle tracks using the anti-$k_{\rm T}$ algorithm with resolution parameters $R =$ 0.2 and 0.4, with event-plane angle and event-shape values determined using information from forward scintillating detectors. The results presented in this letter show that, in semicentral Pb$-$Pb collisions, there is no significant difference between jet yields in predominantly isotropic and elliptical events. However, out-of-plane jets are observed to be more suppressed than in-plane jets. Further, this relative suppression is greater for low transverse momentum ($<$ 50 GeV/$c$) $R =$ 0.2 jets produced in elliptical events, with out-of-plane to in-plane jet-yield ratios varying up to 5.2$\sigma$ between different event-shape classes. These results agree with previous studies indicating that jets experience azimuthally anisotropic suppression when traversing the QGP medium, and can provide additional constraints on the path-length dependence of jet energy loss.
Charged-particle jet yields, R=0.2
Charged-particle jet yields, R=0.4
q2-large/q2-small, R=0.2
The first measurements of skewness and kurtosis of mean transverse momentum ($\langle p_\mathrm{T}\rangle$) fluctuations are reported in Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV, Xe$-$Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$$=$ 5.44 TeV and pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 5.02$ TeV using the ALICE detector. The measurements are carried out as a function of system size $\langle \mathrm{d}N_\mathrm{ch}/\mathrm{d}\eta\rangle_{|\eta|<0.5}^{1/3}$, using charged particles with transverse momentum ($p_\mathrm{T}$) and pseudorapidity ($\eta$), in the range $0.2 < p_\mathrm{T} < 3.0$ GeV/$c$ and $|\eta| < 0.8$, respectively. In Pb$-$Pb and Xe$-$Xe collisions, positive skewness is observed in the fluctuations of $\langle p_\mathrm{T}\rangle$ for all centralities, which is significantly larger than what would be expected in the scenario of independent particle emission. This positive skewness is considered a crucial consequence of the hydrodynamic evolution of the hot and dense nuclear matter created in heavy-ion collisions. Furthermore, similar observations of positive skewness for minimum bias pp collisions are also reported here. Kurtosis of $\langle p_\mathrm{T}\rangle$ fluctuations is found to be in good agreement with the kurtosis of Gaussian distribution, for most central Pb$-$Pb collisions. Hydrodynamic model calculations with MUSIC using Monte Carlo Glauber initial conditions are able to explain the measurements of both skewness and kurtosis qualitatively from semicentral to central collisions in Pb--Pb system. Color reconnection mechanism in PYTHIA8 model seems to play a pivotal role in capturing the qualitative behavior of the same measurements in pp collisions.
Standardized skewness of $\langle p_\mathrm{T}\rangle$ as a function of $\langle\mathrm{d}N_\mathrm{ch}/\mathrm{d}\eta\rangle^{1/3}_{|\eta|<0.5}$ in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 TeV.
Standardized skewness of $\langle p_\mathrm{T}\rangle$ as a function of $\langle\mathrm{d}N_\mathrm{ch}/\mathrm{d}\eta\rangle^{1/3}_{|\eta|<0.5}$ in Xe$-$Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV.
Standardized skewness of $\langle p_\mathrm{T}\rangle$ as a function of $\langle\mathrm{d}N_\mathrm{ch}/\mathrm{d}\eta\rangle^{1/3}_{|\eta|<0.5}$ in Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV.
In this Letter, the first measurement of the inelastic cross section for antitriton$-$nucleus interactions is reported, covering the momentum range of $0.8 \leq p < 2.4$ GeV/$c$. The measurement is carried out using data recorded with the ALICE detector in pp and Pb$-$Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon of 13 TeV and 5.02 TeV, respectively. The detector material serves as an absorber for antitriton nuclei. The raw yield of (anti)triton nuclei measured with the ALICE apparatus is compared to the results from detailed ALICE simulations based on the GEANT4 toolkit for the propagation of (anti)particles through matter, allowing one to quantify the inelastic interaction probability in the detector material. This analysis complements the measurement of the inelastic cross section of antinuclei up to $A=3$ carried out by the ALICE Collaboration, and demonstrates the feasibility of the study of the isospin dependence of inelastic interaction cross section with the analysis techniques presented in this Letter.
Raw primary antitriton-to-triton ratio as a function of the momentum p_primary in exp. data.
Raw primary antitriton-to-triton ratio as a function of the momentum p_primary in MC (sigma_inel x 0.75).
Raw primary antitriton-to-triton ratio as a function of the momentum p_primary in MC (sigma_inel x 1.0).
In this letter, measurements of (anti)alpha production in central (0$-$10%) Pb$-$Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon$-$nucleon pair of $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV are presented, including the first measurement of an antialpha transverse-momentum spectrum. Owing to its large mass, the production of (anti)alpha is expected to be sensitive to different particle production models. The production yields and transverse-momentum spectra of nuclei are of particular interest because they provide a stringent test of these models. The averaged antialpha and alpha spectrum is compared to the spectra of lighter particles, by including it into a common blast-wave fit capturing the hydrodynamic-like flow of all particles. This fit is indicating that the (anti)alpha also participates in the collective expansion of the medium created in the collision. A blast-wave fit including only protons, (anti)alpha, and other light nuclei results in a similar flow velocity as the fit that includes all particles. A similar flow velocity, but a significantly larger kinetic freeze-out temperature is obtained when only protons and light nuclei are included in the fit. The coalescence parameter $B_4$ is well described by calculations from a statistical hadronization model but significantly underestimated by calculations assuming nucleus formation via coalescence of nucleons. Similarly, the (anti)alpha-to-proton ratio is well described by the statistical hadronization model. On the other hand, coalescence calculations including approaches with different implementations of the (anti)alpha substructure tend to underestimate the data.
Antialpha spectrum in 0-10% V0M centrality class
Alpha spectrum in 0-10% V0M centrality class
Average alpha and antialpha spectrum in 0-10% V0M centrality class
The production cross sections of $\mathrm {D^0}$, $\mathrm {D^+}$, and $\mathrm {\Lambda_{c}^{+}}$ hadrons originating from beauty-hadron decays (i.e. non-prompt) were measured for the first time at midrapidity in proton$-$lead (p$-$Pb) collisions at the center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}} = 5.02$ TeV. Nuclear modification factors ($R_{\mathrm {pPb}}$) of non-prompt $\mathrm {D^0}$, $\mathrm {D^+}$, and $\mathrm {\Lambda_{c}^{+}}$ are calculated as a function of the transverse momentum ($p_{\mathrm T}$) to investigate the modification of the momentum spectra measured in p$-$Pb collisions with respect to those measured in proton$-$proton (pp) collisions at the same energy. The $R_{\mathrm {pPb}}$ measurements are compatible with unity and with the measurements in the prompt charm sector, and do not show a significant $p_{\mathrm T}$ dependence. The $p_{\mathrm T}$-integrated cross sections and $p_{\mathrm T}$-integrated $R_{\mathrm {pPb}}$ of non-prompt $\mathrm {D^0}$ and $\mathrm {D^+}$ mesons are also computed by extrapolating the visible cross sections down to $p_{\mathrm T}$ = 0. The non-prompt D-meson $R_{\mathrm {pPb}}$ integrated over $p_{\mathrm T}$ is compatible with unity and with model calculations implementing modification of the parton distribution functions of nucleons bound in nuclei with respect to free nucleons. The non-prompt $\mathrm {\Lambda_{c}^{+}/D^{0}}$ and $\mathrm{D^+/D^0}$ production ratios are computed to investigate hadronisation mechanisms of beauty quarks into mesons and baryons. The measured ratios as a function of $p_{\mathrm T}$ display a similar trend to that measured for charm hadrons in the same collision system.
Non-prompt $\mathrm{D}^0$ $p_\mathrm{{T}}$-differential production cross section $\mathrm{d}^2\sigma/\mathrm{d}p_\mathrm{T}\mathrm{d}y$ in p--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{{s_\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02~\mathrm{{TeV}}$ in the rapidity interval $-0.96 < y_{\mathrm{cms}} < 0.04$.
Non-prompt $\mathrm{D}^+$ $p_\mathrm{{T}}$-differential production cross section $\mathrm{d}^2\sigma/\mathrm{d}p_\mathrm{T}\mathrm{d}y$ in p--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{{s_\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02~\mathrm{{TeV}}$ in the rapidity interval $-0.96 < y_{\mathrm{cms}} < 0.04$.
Non-prompt $\Lambda_{c}^{+}$ $p_\mathrm{{T}}$-differential production cross section $\mathrm{d}^2\sigma/\mathrm{d}p_\mathrm{T}\mathrm{d}y$ in p--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{{s_\mathrm{NN}}}=5.02~\mathrm{{TeV}}$ in the rapidity interval $-0.96 < y_{\mathrm{cms}} < 0.04$.
Correlations in azimuthal angle extending over a long range in pseudorapidity between particles, usually called the "ridge" phenomenon, were discovered in heavy-ion collisions, and later found in pp and p$-$Pb collisions. In large systems, they are thought to arise from the expansion (collective flow) of the produced particles. Extending these measurements over a wider range in pseudorapidity and final-state particle multiplicity is important to understand better the origin of these long-range correlations in small-collision systems. In this Letter, measurements of the long-range correlations in p$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV are extended to a pseudorapidity gap of $\Delta\eta \sim 8$ between particles using the ALICE, forward multiplicity detectors. After suppressing non-flow correlations, e.g., from jet and resonance decays, the ridge structure is observed to persist up to a very large gap of $\Delta\eta \sim 8$ for the first time in p$-$Pb collisions. This shows that the collective flow-like correlations extend over an extensive pseudorapidity range also in small-collision systems such as p$-$Pb collisions. The pseudorapidity dependence of the second-order anisotropic flow coefficient, $v_{2}({\eta})$, is extracted from the long-range correlations. The $v_{2}(\eta)$ results are presented for a wide pseudorapidity range of $-3.1 < \eta < 4.8$ in various centrality classes in p$-$Pb collisions. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the source of anisotropic flow in small-collision systems, the $v_{2}(\eta)$ measurements are compared to hydrodynamic and transport model calculations. The comparison suggests that the final-state interactions play a dominant role in developing the anisotropic flow in small-collision systems.
$v_{2}\{2\}$ at $p_{\rm T} > 0$ GeV/$c$ as a function of pseudorapidity in different centrality classes using the template fit method
$v_{2}$ at $p_{\rm T} > 0$ GeV/$c$ as a function of charged particle density for five different pseudorapidity regions with the peripheral subtraction at $-3.1<\eta<-2.5$
$v_{2}$ at $p_{\rm T} > 0$ GeV/$c$ as a function of charged particle density for five different pseudorapidity regions with the peripheral subtraction at $-0.8<\eta<0$
This Letter presents the first measurement of the impact-parameter dependent angular anisotropy in the decay of coherently photoproduced $\rho^0$ mesons. The $\rho^0$ mesons are reconstructed through their decay into pion pairs. The measured anisotropy corresponds to the amplitude of the $\cos(2\phi)$ modulation, where $\phi$ is the angle between the two vectors formed by the sum and the difference of the transverse momenta of the pions, respectively. The measurement was performed by the ALICE Collaboration at the LHC using data from ultraperipheral Pb$-$Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}~=~5.02$ TeV per nucleon pair. Different impact-parameter regions are selected by classifying the events in nuclear-breakup classes. The amplitude of the $\cos(2\phi)$ modulation is found to increase by about one order of magnitude from large to small impact parameters. Theoretical calculations describe the measured $\cos(2\phi)$ anisotropy and its impact-parameter dependence as the result of a quantum interference effect at the femtometer scale, arising from the ambiguity regarding which of the nuclei is the photon source in the interaction.
Amplitudes of the $\cos(2\phi)$ modulation of the $ρ^0$ yield in ultra-peripheral Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV in all neutron classes.
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