Search for metastable heavy charged particles with large ionization energy loss in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV using the ATLAS experiment

The ATLAS collaboration Aaboud, Morad ; Aad, Georges ; Abbott, Brad ; et al.
Phys.Rev.D 93 (2016) 112015, 2016.
Inspire Record 1448101 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.73584

This paper presents a search for massive charged long-lived particles produced in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=$ 13 TeV at the LHC using the ATLAS experiment. The dataset used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 3.2 fb$^{-1}$. Many extensions of the Standard Model predict the existence of massive charged long-lived particles, such as $R$-hadrons. These massive particles are expected to be produced with a velocity significantly below the speed of light, and therefore to have a specific ionization higher than any Standard Model particle of unit charge at high momenta. The Pixel subsystem of the ATLAS detector is used to measure the ionization energy loss of reconstructed charged particles and to search for such highly ionizing particles. The search presented here has much greater sensitivity than a similar search performed using the ATLAS detector in the $\sqrt{s}=$ 8 TeV dataset, thanks to the increase in expected signal cross-section due to the higher center-of-mass energy of collisions, to an upgraded detector with a new silicon layer close to the interaction point, and to analysis improvements. No significant deviation from Standard Model background expectations is observed, and lifetime-dependent upper limits on $R$-hadron production cross-sections and masses are set. Gluino $R$-hadrons with lifetimes above 0.4 ns and decaying to $q\bar{q}$ plus a 100 GeV neutralino are excluded at the 95% confidence level, with lower mass limit ranging between 740 GeV and 1590 GeV. In the case of stable $R$-hadrons the lower mass limit at the 95% confidence level is 1570 GeV.

5 data tables

Mass distribution for data and expected background for stable particle searches. Also shown are two examples for signals as expected for gluino R-hadrons in the explored mass range. The uncertainty on the background estimation includes both the statistical and systematic uncertainties.

Mass distribution for data and expected background for metastable particle searches. Also shown are two examples for signals as expected for gluino R-hadrons in the explored mass range. The uncertainty on the background estimation includes both the statistical and systematic uncertainties.

Cross-section as a function of mass for gluino R-hadrons with lifetime tau=10 ns, decaying to qanti-q plus a light neutralino of mass=100 GeV. The central value of the observed and expected 95% upper limit on excluded cross-section is given. The 1 sigma band on the expected UL is given as an uncertainty.

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Studying Parton Energy Loss in Heavy-Ion Collisions via Direct-Photon and Charged-Particle Azimuthal Correlations

The STAR collaboration Abelev, B.I. ; Aggarwal, M.M. ; Ahammed, Z. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.C 82 (2010) 034909, 2010.
Inspire Record 839470 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.101353

Charged-particle spectra associated with direct photon ($\gamma_{dir} $) and $\pi^0$ are measured in $p$+$p$ and Au+Au collisions at center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV with the STAR detector at RHIC. A hower-shape analysis is used to partially discriminate between $\gamma_{dir}$ and $\pi^0$. Assuming no associated charged particles in the $\gamma_{dir}$ direction (near side) and small contribution from fragmentation photons ($\gamma_{frag}$), the associated charged-particle yields opposite to $\gamma_{dir}$ (away side) are extracted. At mid-rapidity ($|\eta|<0.9$) in central Au+Au collisions, charged-particle yields associated with $\gamma_{dir}$ and $\pi^0$ at high transverse momentum ($8< p_{T}^{trig}<16$ GeV/$c$) are suppressed by a factor of 3-5 compared with $p$ + $p$ collisions. The observed suppression of the associated charged particles, in the kinematic range $|\eta|<1$ and $3< p_{T}^{assoc} < 16$ GeV/$c$, is similar for $\gamma_{dir}$ and $\pi^0$, and independent of the $\gamma_{dir}$ energy within uncertainties. These measurements indicate that the parton energy loss, in the covered kinematic range, is insensitive to the parton path length.

4 data tables

The $z_{T}$ dependence of $\pi^{0}-h^{\pm}$ near side and away-side associated particle yields. The errors denoted 'syst' are systematic errors correlated in $z_{T}$. The errors denoted 'syst uncorr' are point-to-point systematic errors.

The $z_{T}$ dependence of away-side associated-particle yields for $\pi^{0}-h^{\pm}$ triggers and $\gamma_{dir}$ triggers. The errors denoted 'syst' are systematic errors correlated in $z_{T}$. The errors denoted 'syst uncorr' are point-to-point systematic errors.

The $z_{T}$ dependence $I_{AA}$ for $\pi^{0}-h^{\pm}$ triggers and $\gamma_{dir}$ triggers. The errors denoted 'syst' are systematic errors correlated in $z_{T}$. The errors denoted 'syst uncorr' are point-to-point systematic errors.

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Growth of Long Range Forward-Backward Multiplicity Correlations with Centrality in Au+Au Collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV

The STAR collaboration Abelev, B.I. ; Aggarwal, M.M. ; Ahammed, Z. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.Lett. 103 (2009) 172301, 2009.
Inspire Record 819318 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.102090

Forward-backward multiplicity correlation strengths have been measured for the first time with the STAR detector for Au+Au and $\textit{p+p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. Strong short and long range correlations are seen in central (0-10%) Au+Au collisions. The magnitude of these correlations decrease with decreasing centrality until only short range correlations are observed in 40-50% Au+Au collisions. The results are in agreement with predictions from the Dual Parton and Color Glass Condensate models.

2 data tables

FB Correlation strength for Au+Au at different centralities and p+p reactions as a function of $\Delta\eta$.

Backward-forward dispersion, $D_{bf}^{2}$ and forward-forward dispersion $D_{bf}^{2}$ for Au+Au 0-10% centrality and p+p reactions as a function of $\Delta\eta$.


Distributions of charged hadrons associated with high transverse momentum particles in p p and Au + Au collisions at s(NN)**(1/2) = 200-GeV.

The STAR collaboration Adams, J. ; Adler, C. ; Aggarwal, M.M. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.Lett. 95 (2005) 152301, 2005.
Inspire Record 675307 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.96233

Charged hadrons in 0.15 < pt < 4 GeV/c associated with particles of pt^trig > 4 GeV/c are reconstructed in pp and Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV. The associated multiplicity and pt magnitude sum are found to increase from pp to central Au+Au collisions. The associated pt distributions, while similar in shape on the near side, are significantly softened on the away side in central Au+Au relative to pp and not much harder than that of inclusive hadrons. The results, consistent with jet quenching, suggest that the away-side fragments approach equilibration with the medium traversed.

25 data tables

Dphi correlation functions for 0.15 < pT < 4 GEV/c and 4 < p_T^trig < 6 GEV/c.

Dphi correlation functions for 0.15 < pT < 4 GEV/c and 4 < p_T^trig < 6 GEV/c.

Dphi correlation functions for 2 < pT < 4 GEV/c and 4 < p_T^trig < 6 GEV/c.

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