We present a measurement of the double longitudinal spin asymmetry in inclusive pi^0 production in polarized proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s)=200 GeV. The data were taken at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider with average beam polarizations of 26%. The measurements are the first of a program to study the longitudinal spin structure of the proton, using strongly interacting probes, at collider energies. The asymmetry is presented for transverse momenta 1-5 GeV/c at mid-rapidity, where next-to-leading order perturbative quantum chromodynamic (NLO pQCD) calculations describe the unpolarized cross section well. The observed asymmetry is small and is compared with a NLO pQCD calculation with a range of polarized gluon distributions.
Double spin asymmetry for the raw signal ($\pi^0 + BG$), for the background ($BG$) and for $\pi^0$ background corrected; single spin asymmetry for $\pi^0$ background corrected; for the four $p_T$ bins.
Single spin raw asymmetry normalized by the beam polarization, $\epsilon$/$P$, as a function of azimuthal angle $\phi$, for forward neutron production.
The measured double spin asymmetry $A^{\pi^0}_{LL}$ versus mean $p_T$ of $\pi^0$s in each bin. Not included in the figure/table: the correlated for all points scale systematic uncertainty of 65% (scales values and stat. uncertainties of points by the same factor).
We present an improved measurement of the double helicity asymmetry for pi^0 production in polarized proton-proton scattering at sqrt(s) = 200 GeV employing the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The improvements to our previous measurement come from two main factors: Inclusion of a new data set from the 2004 RHIC run with higher beam polarizations than the earlier run and a recalibration of the beam polarization measurements, which resulted in reduced uncertainties and increased beam polarizations. The results are compared to a Next to Leading Order (NLO) perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics (pQCD) calculation with a range of polarized gluon distributions.
Run-3+Run-4 combined results on $A^{\pi^0}_{LL}$ versus mean $p_T$ in each bin. Not included in the figure/table: the correlated for all points scale systematic uncertainty of 18% (scales both the values and stat. uncertainties by the same factor).
The properties of jets produced in p+p collisions at sqrt(s)=200 GeV are measured using the method of two particle correlations. The trigger particle is a leading particle from a large transverse momentum jet while the associated particle comes from either the same jet or the away-side jet. Analysis of the angular width of the near-side peak in the correlation function determines the jet fragmentation transverse momentum j_T . The extracted value, sqrt(<j_T^2>)= 585 +/- 6(stat) +/- 15(sys) MeV/c, is constant with respect to the trigger particle transverse momentum, and comparable to the previous lower sqrt(s) measurements. The width of the away-side peak is shown to be a convolution of j_T with the fragmentation variable, z, and the partonic transverse momentum, k_T . The <z> is determined through a combined analysis of the measured pi^0 inclusive and associated spectra using jet fragmentation functions measured in e^+e^-. collisions. The final extracted values of k_T are then determined to also be independent of the trigger particle transverse momentum, over the range measured, with value of sqrt(<k_T^2>) = 2.68 +/- 0.07(stat) +/- 0.34(sys) GeV/c.
The $\chi^2(DOF)$ $\sigma_N$ and $\sqrt{<p^2_{out}>}$ values extracted for the correlation function in GeV/$c$.
The $\chi^2(DOF)$ $\sigma_N$ and $\sqrt{<p^2_{out}>}$ values extracted for the correlation function in GeV/$c$.
Measured widths of the near- and away-angle $\pi^0$ - $h^{\pm}$ correlation peaks for various trigger momenta.
The momentum distribution of electrons from decays of heavy flavor (charm and beauty) for midrapidity |y| < 0.35 in p+p collisions at sqrt(s) = 200 GeV has been measured by the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) over the transverse momentum range 0.3 < p_T < 9 GeV/c. Two independent methods have been used to determine the heavy flavor yields, and the results are in good agreement with each other. A fixed-order-plus-next-to-leading-log pQCD calculation agrees with the data within the theoretical and experimental uncertainties, with the data/theory ratio of 1.72 +/- 0.02^stat +/- 0.19^sys for 0.3 < p_T < 9 GeV/c. The total charm production cross section at this energy has also been deduced to be sigma_(c c^bar) = 567 +/- 57^stat +/- 224^sys micro barns.
Heavy-flavor decay electrons invariant differential cross-section An additional 10% normalization uncertainty is to add.
Differential charm cross section To obtain this value, the differential "charm-decay" electrons cross-section, integrated over PT>0.4 GeV/c, has been extrapolated down to PT=0 using the spectrum shape predicted by a fixed-order-plus-next-to-leading-log (FONLL)calculation. The contribution from beauty and beauty cascades, estimated to be 0.1 microbarn, has been substracted, and the c->e branching ratio used was 9.5 +- 1.0%.
Total charm cross section To obtain the total charm cross section, the differential charm cross section has been extrapolated to the whole rapidity range, using a HVQMNR rapidity distribution with aCTEQ5M PDF.
Cross sections for mid-rapidity production of direct photons in p+p collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) are reported for 3 < p_T < 16 GeV/c. Next-to-leading order (NLO) perturbative QCD (pQCD) describes the data well for p_T > 5 GeV/c, where the uncertainties of the measurement and theory are comparable. We also report on the effect of requiring the photons to be isolated from parton jet energy. The observed fraction of isolated photons is well described by pQCD for p_T > 7 GeV/c.
Direct photon spectra with NLO pQCD calculations for three theory scales, $\mu$ and a comparison to the NLO pQCD calculations for $\mu$ = $p_T$.
Ratio of isolated direct photons to all direct photons from the $\pi^0$-tagging method.
Ratio of isolated direct photons to all direct photons from the $\pi^0$-tagging method.
J/Psi production in p+p collisions at sqrt(s) = 200 GeV has been Measured in the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) over a rapidity range of -2.2 < y < 2.2 and a transverse momentum range of 0 < pT < 9 GeV/c. The statistics available allow a detailed measurement of both the pT and rapidity distributions and are sufficient to constrain production models. The total cross section times branching ratio determined for J/Psi production is B_{ll} sigma_pp^J/psi = 178 +/- 3(stat) +/- 53(syst) +/- 18(norm) nb.
J/PSI differential cross section, times dilepton branching ratio, versus transverse momentum PT, at mid rapidity : -0.35<y<0.35.
J/PSI differential cross section, times dilepton branching ratio, versus transverse momentum PT, at forward rapidities : absolute value of y belongs to [1.2;2.2].
Mean PT^2 value at mid rapidities : -0.35<y<0.35 The mean PT is obtained with a phenomonological fit of the J/PSI distribution in PT of the form (1/(2*PI*PT))*D(SIG)/DPT = A ( 1+(PT/B)^2)^-6 .The systematic error includes the incertainty from the maximum shape deviation permitted by the point-to-point correlated errors and from allowing the exponent of the fit fonctionto be a free parameter.
The PHENIX experiment presents results from the RHIC 2005 run with polarized proton collisions at sqrt(s)=200 GeV, for inclusive \pi^0 production at mid-rapidity. Unpolarized cross section results are given for transverse momenta p_T=0.5 to 20 GeV/c, extending the range of published data to both lower and higher p_T. The cross section is described well for p_T < 1 GeV/c by an exponential in p_T, and, for p_T > 2 GeV/c, by perturbative QCD. Double helicity asymmetries A_LL are presented based on a factor of five improvement in uncertainties as compared to previously published results, due to both an improved beam polarization of 50%, and to higher integrated luminosity. These measurements are sensitive to the gluon polarization in the proton, and exclude maximal values for the gluon polarization.
The neutral pion production cross section at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV as a function of $p_T$ and the results of NLO pQCD calculations for theory scales $\mu$ = $p_T$/2, $p_T$, and $2p_T$. Additional 9.7% normalization uncertainty is not included.
The double helicity asymmetry ($A_{LL}$) for neutral pion production at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV as a function of $p_T$ (GeV/$c$). Not included in the figure/table: the correlated for all points scale systematic uncertainty of 9.4% (scales both the values and stat. uncertainties by the same factor).
The single helicity asymmetry ($A_L$) for neutral pion production at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV as a function of $p_T$ (GeV/$c$). Systematic uncertainties are negligible.
The PHENIX experiement has measured the electron-positron pair mass spectrum from 0 to 8 GeV/c^2 in p+p collisions at sqrt(s)=200 GeV. The contributions from light meson decays to e^+e^- pairs have been determined based on measurements of hadron production cross sections by PHENIX. They account for nearly all e^+e^- pairs in the mass region below 1 GeV/c^2. The e^+e^- pair yield remaining after subtracting these contributions is dominated by semileptonic decays of charmed hadrons correlated through flavor conservation. Using the spectral shape predicted by PYTHIA, we estimate the charm production cross section to be 544 +/- 39(stat) +/- 142(syst) +/- 200(model) \mu b, which is consistent with QCD calculations and measurements of single leptons by PHENIX.
Differential charm cross section at mid rapidity An additional +-39.5 microbarn error, due to the validity of the model used to extrapolate the data, is not included The contribution from beauty estimated to be 3.7 microbarn, has been subtracted. The c->e branching ratio used was 9.5 +-1.0%.
Total charm cross section An additional systemactic error of +- 200 microbarn, due to the validity of the model used to extrapolate the data, is not included. To obtain the total charm cross section, the differential charm cross section has been extrapolated to the whole rapidity range, using a HVQMNR rapidity distribution with aCTEQ5M PDF.
The double helicity asymmetry in neutral pion production for p_T = 1 to 12 GeV/c has been measured with the PHENIX experiment in order to access the gluon spin contribution, Delta-G, to the proton spin. Measured asymmetries are consistent with zero, and at a theory scale of \mu^2 = 4 GeV^2 give Delta-G^[0.02,0.3] = 0.1 to 0.2, with a constraint of -0.7 < Delta-G^[0.02,0.3] < 0.5 at Delta-chi^2 = 9 (~3 sigma) for our sampled gluon momentum fraction (x) range, 0.02 to 0.3. The results are obtained using predictions for our measured asymmetries generated from four representative fits to polarized deep inelastic scattering data. We also consider the dependence of the Delta-G constraint on the choice of theoretical scale, a dominant uncertainty in these predictions.
Asymmetry in $\pi^0$ production as a function of $p_T$. Not included in the table: 8.3% common scale uncertainty (scales both the value and and the stat. uncertainty by the same factor), and 7x10$^{-4}$ common shift uncertainty.
$\pi^0$ asymmetry, combined Run-5 and Run-6
The PHENIX experiment presents results from the RHIC 2006 run with polarized proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 62.4 GeV for inclusive pi^0 production at mid-rapidity. Unpolarized cross section results are measured for transverse momenta p_T = 0.5 to 7 GeV/c. Next-to-leading order perturbative quantum chromodynamics calculations are compared with the data, and while the calculations are consistent with the measurements, next-to-leading logarithmic corrections improve the agreement. Double helicity asymmetries A_LL are presented for p_T = 1 to 4 GeV/c and probe the higher range of Bjorken_x of the gluon (x_g) with better statistical precision than our previous measurements at sqrt(s)=200 GeV. These measurements are sensitive to the gluon polarization in the proton for 0.06 < x_g < 0.4.
The fraction of inclusive $\pi^0$ yield which satisfied the BBC trigger condition.
The neutral pion production cross section at $\sqrt{s}$ = 62.4 GeV as a function of $p_T$ and the results of next-to-leading order (NLO) and next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy (NLL) perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics (pQCD) calculations for the theory scale $\mu$ = $p_T$.
The parameter $n$ obtained from the ratio of invariant cross section at $\sqrt{s}$ = 62.4 GeV and $\sqrt{s}$ = 200GeV, at each $x_T$ of $\sqrt{s}$ = 62.4 GeV data; error bars show the statistical and systematic uncertainties of the $\sqrt{s}$ = 62.4 GeV and $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV data.
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