Atomic nuclei are self-organized, many-body quantum systems bound by strong nuclear forces within femtometer-scale space. These complex systems manifest a variety of shapes, traditionally explored using non-invasive spectroscopic techniques at low energies. However, at these energies, their instantaneous shapes are obscured by long-timescale quantum fluctuations, making direct observation challenging. Here we introduce the ``collective flow assisted nuclear shape imaging'' method, which images the nuclear global shape by colliding them at ultrarelativistic speeds and analyzing the collective response of outgoing debris. This technique captures a collision-specific snapshot of the spatial matter distribution within the nuclei, which, through the hydrodynamic expansion, imprints patterns on the particle momentum distribution observed in detectors. We benchmark this method in collisions of ground state Uranium-238 nuclei, known for their elongated, axial-symmetric shape. Our findings show a large deformation with a slight deviation from axial symmetry in the nuclear ground state, aligning broadly with previous low-energy experiments. This approach offers a new method for imaging nuclear shapes, enhances our understanding of the initial conditions in high-energy collisions and addresses the important issue of nuclear structure evolution across energy scales.
Data from Figure 2, panel a, Au+Au, 0-0.5% Centrality, 0.2<p_{T}<3 GeV/c, systematics include non-flow difference in the two systems, but correlated non-flow systematics with the value of $\delta \left\langle v_{2}^{2}\right\rangle$ =+-3.2e-5 included
Data from Figure 2, panel a, U+U, 0-0.5% Centrality, 0.2<p_{T}<3 GeV/c, systematics include non-flow difference in the two systems, but correlated non-flow systematics with the value of $\delta \left\langle v_{2}^{2}\right\rangle$ =+-3.2e-5 included
Data from Figure 2, panel b, Au+Au, 0-0.5% Centrality, 0.2<p_{T}<3 GeV/c
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 $-0.8<\eta<0$
Azimuthal anisotropy of produced particles is one of the most important observables used to access the collective properties of the expanding medium created in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. In this paper, we present second ($v_{2}$) and third ($v_{3}$) order azimuthal anisotropies of $K_{S}^{0}$, $\phi$, $\Lambda$, $\Xi$ and $\Omega$ at mid-rapidity ($|y|<$1) in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\text{NN}}}$ = 54.4 GeV measured by the STAR detector. The $v_{2}$ and $v_{3}$ are measured as a function of transverse momentum and centrality. Their energy dependence is also studied. $v_{3}$ is found to be more sensitive to the change in the center-of-mass energy than $v_{2}$. Scaling by constituent quark number is found to hold for $v_{2}$ within 10%. This observation could be evidence for the development of partonic collectivity in 54.4 GeV Au+Au collisions. Differences in $v_{2}$ and $v_{3}$ between baryons and anti-baryons are presented, and ratios of $v_{3}$/$v_{2}^{3/2}$ are studied and motivated by hydrodynamical calculations. The ratio of $v_{2}$ of $\phi$ mesons to that of anti-protons ($v_{2}(\phi)/v_{2}(\bar{p})$) shows centrality dependence at low transverse momentum, presumably resulting from the larger effects from hadronic interactions on anti-proton $v_{2}$.
$v_{2}(p_{T})$ for $K_{S}^{0}$ (Centrality:0-10%)
$v_{2}(p_{T})$ for $K_{S}^{0}$ (Centrality:10-40%)
$v_{2}(p_{T})$ for $K_{S}^{0}$ (Centrality:40-80%)
The second-order Fourier coefficients ($v_2$) characterizing the azimuthal distribution of $\Upsilon$(1S) and $\Upsilon$(2S) mesons arising from PbPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}} =$ 5.02 TeV are studied. The $\Upsilon$ mesons are reconstructed in their dimuon decay channel, as measured by the CMS detector. The data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 1.7 nb$^{-1}$. The scalar product method is used to extract the $v_2$ coefficients of the azimuthal distribution. Results are reported for the rapidity range $|y|$$\lt$ 2.4, with the transverse momentum 0 $\lt$$p_\mathrm{T}$$\lt$ 50 GeV/$c$, and in three centrality ranges of 10-30%, 30-50% and 50-90%. In contrast to the J/$\psi$ mesons, the measured $v_2$ values for the $\Upsilon$ mesons are found to be consistent with zero.
$v_{2}$ of $\Upsilon(\mathrm{1S})$ mesons as a function of collision centrality.
$v_{2}$ of $\Upsilon(\mathrm{1S})$ and $\Upsilon(\mathrm{2S})$ mesons integrated for 10-90% centrality range.
$v_{2}$ of $\Upsilon(\mathrm{1S})$ as a function of $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ in 10-90% centrality range.
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