We present the first measurement of elliptic ($v_2$) and triangular ($v_3$) flow in high-multiplicity $^{3}$He$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV. Two-particle correlations, where the particles have a large separation in pseudorapidity, are compared in $^{3}$He$+$Au and in $p$$+$$p$ collisions and indicate that collective effects dominate the second and third Fourier components for the correlations observed in the $^{3}$He$+$Au system. The collective behavior is quantified in terms of elliptic $v_2$ and triangular $v_3$ anisotropy coefficients measured with respect to their corresponding event planes. The $v_2$ values are comparable to those previously measured in $d$$+$Au collisions at the same nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy. Comparison with various theoretical predictions are made, including to models where the hot spots created by the impact of the three $^{3}$He nucleons on the Au nucleus expand hydrodynamically to generate the triangular flow. The agreement of these models with data may indicate the formation of low-viscosity quark-gluon plasma even in these small collision systems.
Results for $v_2$ and $v_3$ as a function of $p_T$ for inclusive charged hadrons at midrapidity in 0-5% central $^3$He+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
We have studied the dependence of azimuthal anisotropy $v_2$ for inclusive and identified charged hadrons in Au$+$Au and Cu$+$Cu collisions on collision energy, species, and centrality. The values of $v_2$ as a function of transverse momentum $p_T$ and centrality in Au$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$=200 GeV and 62.4 GeV are the same within uncertainties. However, in Cu$+$Cu collisions we observe a decrease in $v_2$ values as the collision energy is reduced from 200 to 62.4 GeV. The decrease is larger in the more peripheral collisions. By examining both Au$+$Au and Cu$+$Cu collisions we find that $v_2$ depends both on eccentricity and the number of participants, $N_{\rm part}$. We observe that $v_2$ divided by eccentricity ($\varepsilon$) monotonically increases with $N_{\rm part}$ and scales as ${N_{\rm part}^{1/3}}$. The Cu$+$Cu data at 62.4 GeV falls below the other scaled $v_{2}$ data. For identified hadrons, $v_2$ divided by the number of constituent quarks $n_q$ is independent of hadron species as a function of transverse kinetic energy $KE_T=m_T-m$ between $0.1<KE_T/n_q<1$ GeV. Combining all of the above scaling and normalizations, we observe a near-universal scaling, with the exception of the Cu$+$Cu data at 62.4 GeV, of $v_2/(n_q\cdot\varepsilon\cdot N^{1/3}_{\rm part})$ vs $KE_T/n_q$ for all measured particles.
$v_2$ for inclusive charged hadrons in Au+Au at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
$v_2$ for inclusive charged hadrons in Au+Au at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
$v_2$ for inclusive charged hadrons in Au+Au at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
The standard model (SM) of particle physics is spectacularly successful, yet the measured value of the muon anomalous magnetic moment $(g-2)_\mu$ deviates from SM calculations by 3.6$\sigma$. Several theoretical models attribute this to the existence of a "dark photon," an additional U(1) gauge boson, which is weakly coupled to ordinary photons. The PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider has searched for a dark photon, $U$, in $\pi^0,\eta \rightarrow \gamma e^+e^-$ decays and obtained upper limits of $\mathcal{O}(2\times10^{-6})$ on $U$-$\gamma$ mixing at 90% CL for the mass range $30<m_U<90$ MeV/$c^2$. Combined with other experimental limits, the remaining region in the $U$-$\gamma$ mixing parameter space that can explain the $(g-2)_\mu$ deviation from its SM value is nearly completely excluded at the 90% confidence level, with only a small region of $29<m_U<32$ MeV/$c^2$ remaining.
The experimental sensitivity and observed limit on the number of dark photon candidates as a function of the assumed dark photon mass.
The experimental sensitivity and observed limit on the number of dark photon candidates as a function of the assumed dark photon mass.
The experimental sensitivity and observed limit on the number of dark photon candidates as a function of the assumed dark photon mass.
Measurements of bottomonium production in heavy ion and $p$$+$$p$ collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) are presented. The inclusive yield of the three $\Upsilon$ states, $\Upsilon(1S+2S+3S)$, was measured in the PHENIX experiment via electron-positron decay pairs at midrapidity for Au$+$Au and $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV. The $\Upsilon(1S+2S+3S)\rightarrow e^+e^-$ differential cross section at midrapidity was found to be $B_{\rm ee} d\sigma/dy =$ 108 $\pm$ 38 (stat) $\pm$ 15(syst) $\pm$ 11 (luminosity) pb in $p$$+$$p$ collisions. The nuclear modification factor in the 30\% most central Au$+$Au collisions indicates a suppression of the total $\Upsilon$ state yield relative to the extrapolation from $p$$+$$p$ collision data. The suppression is consistent with measurements made by STAR at RHIC and at higher energies by the CMS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider.
Summary of the measured $\Upsilon$ invariant multiplicities, $BdN/dy$, for one $p + p$ three Au + Au data sets.
Summary of the measured $\Upsilon$ nuclear modification factors, $R_{AA}$, for Au + Au data sets.
Summary of the measured $\Upsilon$ nuclear modification factors, $R_{AA}$, for Au + Au data sets.
Measurements of transverse-single-spin asymmetries ($A_{N}$) in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=$62.4 and 200 GeV with the PHENIX detector at RHIC are presented. At midrapidity, $A_{N}$ is measured for neutral pion and eta mesons reconstructed from diphoton decay, and at forward rapidities, neutral pions are measured using both diphotons and electromagnetic clusters. The neutral-pion measurement of $A_{N}$ at midrapidity is consistent with zero with uncertainties a factor of 20 smaller than previous publications, which will lead to improved constraints on the gluon Sivers function. At higher rapidities, where the valence quark distributions are probed, the data exhibit sizable asymmetries. In comparison with previous measurements in this kinematic region, the new data extend the kinematic coverage in $\sqrt{s}$ and $p_T$, and it is found that the asymmetries depend only weakly on $\sqrt{s}$. The origin of the forward $A_{N}$ is presently not understood quantitatively. The extended reach to higher $p_T$ probes the transition between transverse momentum dependent effects at low $p_T$ and multi-parton dynamics at high $p_T$.
Neutral pion $A_N$ at $\sqrt{s} = 62.4$ GeV as a function of $x_F$ in pseudorapidity $3.1 < |\eta| < 3.5$, with statistical and systematic uncertainties.
Neutral pion $A_N$ at $\sqrt{s} = 62.4$ GeV as a function of $x_F$ in pseudorapidity $3.5 < |\eta| < 3.8$, with statistical and systematic uncertainties.
Neutral pion $A_N$ at $\sqrt{s}$ = 62.4 GeV as function of transverse momentum $p_T$.
We report $e^\pm-\mu^\mp$ pair yield from charm decay measured between midrapidity electrons ($|\eta|<0.35$ and $p_T>0.5$ GeV/$c$) and forward rapidity muons ($1.4<\eta<2.1$ and $p_T>1.0$ GeV/$c$) as a function of $\Delta\phi$ in both $p$$+$$p$ and in $d$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV. Comparing the $p$$+$$p$ results with several different models, we find the results are consistent with a total charm cross section $\sigma_{c\bar{c}} =$ 538 $\pm$ 46 (stat) $\pm$ 197 (data syst) $\pm$ 174 (model syst) $\mu$b. These generators also indicate that the back-to-back peak at $\Delta\phi = \pi$ is dominantly from the leading order contributions (gluon fusion), while higher order processes (flavor excitation and gluon splitting) contribute to the yield at all $\Delta\phi$. We observe a suppression in the pair yield per collision in $d$+Au. We find the pair yield suppression factor for $2.7<\Delta\phi<3.2$ rad is $J_{dA}$ = 0.433 $\pm$ 0.087 (stat) $\pm$ 0.135 (syst), indicating cold nuclear matter modification of $c\bar{c}$ pairs.
The fully-corrected like-sign-subtracted heavy flavor $e$-$\mu$ pair yield in $p$+$p$.
The fully corrected like-sign-subtracted heavy flavor $e$-$\mu$ pair yield in $d$+Au.
$J_{dA}$ plotted as a function of $\Delta\phi$.
The PHENIX Collaboration at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider has measured open heavy flavor production in Cu$+$Cu collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$=200 GeV through the measurement of electrons at midrapidity that originate from semileptonic decays of charm and bottom hadrons. In peripheral Cu$+$Cu collisions an enhanced production of electrons is observed relative to $p$$+$$p$ collisions scaled by the number of binary collisions. In the transverse momentum range from 1 to 5 GeV/$c$ the nuclear modification factor is $R_{AA}$$\sim$1.4. As the system size increases to more central Cu$+$Cu collisions, the enhancement gradually disappears and turns into a suppression. For $p_T>3$ GeV/$c$, the suppression reaches $R_{AA}$$\sim$0.8 in the most central collisions. The $p_T$ and centrality dependence of $R_{AA}$ in Cu$+$Cu collisions agree quantitatively with $R_{AA}$ in $d+$Au and Au$+$Au collisions, if compared at similar number of participating nucleons $\langle N_{\rm part} \rangle$.
The $p_T$ spectra of electrons from the decays of open heavy flavor hadrons produced in Cu+Cu collisions, separated by centrality.
The $p_T$ spectra of electrons from the decays of open heavy flavor hadrons produced in Cu+Cu collisions, separated by centrality.
The $p_T$ spectra of electrons from the decays of open heavy flavor hadrons produced in Cu+Cu collisions, separated by centrality.
The jet fragmentation function is measured with direct photon-hadron correlations in p+p and Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV. The p_T of the photon is an excellent approximation to the initial p_T of the jet and the ratio z_T=p_T^h/p_T^\gamma is used as a proxy for the jet fragmentation function. A statistical subtraction is used to extract the direct photon-hadron yields in Au+Au collisions while a photon isolation cut is applied in p+p. I_ AA, the ratio of jet fragment yield in Au+Au to that in p+p, indicates modification of the jet fragmentation function. Suppression, most likely due to energy loss in the medium, is seen at high z_T. The fragment yield at low z_T is enhanced at large angles. Such a trend is expected from redistribution of the lost energy into increased production of low-momentum particles.
Direct photon-hadron pair per-trigger yields vs Delta-phi (Au+Au and p+p)
Integrated per-trigger yields and I_AA vs xi
Integrated per-trigger yields and I_AA vs xi
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.
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.
Ratio of isolated/inclusive-direct photon (Fig. 13). Upper(+) and lower bounds(-) on systematics can be different, and are listed separately.
Ratio of isolated/inclusive photon from $π^0$ (Fig. 13).
Forum