We report on the first measurement of charm-strange meson $D_s^{\pm}$ production at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm NN}}}$ = 200 GeV from the STAR experiment. The yield ratio between strange ($D_{s}^{\pm}$) and non-strange ($D^{0}$) open-charm mesons is presented and compared to model calculations. A significant enhancement, relative to a PYTHIA simulation of $p$+$p$ collisions, is observed in the $D_{s}^{\pm}/D^0$ yield ratio in Au+Au collisions over a large range of collision centralities. Model calculations incorporating abundant strange-quark production in the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) and coalescence hadronization qualitatively reproduce the data. The transverse-momentum integrated yield ratio of $D_{s}^{\pm}/D^0$ at midrapidity is consistent with a prediction from a statistical hadronization model with the parameters constrained by the yields of light and strange hadrons measured at the same collision energy. These results suggest that the coalescence of charm quarks with strange quarks in the QGP plays an important role in $D_{s}^{\pm}$ meson production in heavy-ion collisions.
The $KK\pi$ invariant mass distribution (Counts per 8 MeV/$c^{2}$ bin) for right-sign combinations in 0-80% Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm NN}}}$ = 200 GeV.
$D_s^{\pm}$ invariant yield as a function of $p_{T}$ in 0-10% centrality bin of Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm NN}}}$ = 200 GeV. The $p_T$ bins are 1.5 < $p_T$ < 2.5 GeV/c, 2.5 < $p_T$ < 3.5 GeV/c, 3.5 < $p_T$ < 5.0 GeV/c and 5.0 < $p_T$ < 8.0 GeV/c.
$D_s^{\pm}$ invariant yield as a function of $p_{T}$ in 10-40% centrality bin of Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{\rm NN}}}$ = 200 GeV. The $p_T$ bins are 1.0 < $p_T$ < 2.0 GeV/c, 2.0 < $p_T$ < 2.5 GeV/c, 2.5 < $p_T$ < 3.5 GeV/c, 3.5 < $p_T$ < 5.0 GeV/c and 5.0 < $p_T$ < 8.0 GeV/c.
The transverse momentum (p_T) spectra and ratios of identified charged hadrons (\pi^+/-, K^+/-, p, p^bar) produced in sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV Au+Au and d+Au collisions are reported in five different centrality classes for each collision species. The measurements of pions and protons are reported up to p_T=6 GeV/c (5 GeV/c), and the measurements of kaons are reported up to p_T=4 GeV/c (3.5 GeV/c) in Au+Au (d+Au) collisions. In the intermediate p_T region, between 2--5 GeV/c, a significant enhancement of baryon to meson ratios compared to those measured in p+p collisions is observed. This enhancement is present in both Au+Au and d+Au collisions, and increases as the collisions become more central. We compare a class of peripheral Au+Au collisions with a class of central d+Au collisions which have a comparable number of participating nucleons and binary nucleon-nucleon collisions. The p_T dependent particle ratios for these classes display a remarkable similarity, which is then discussed.
kaon AuAu Invariant yields versus $p_T$
kaon dAu Invariant yields versus $p_T$
pion AuAu Invariant yields versus $p_T$
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
We report transverse momentum ($p_{T} \leq15$ GeV/$c$) spectra of $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, $p$, $\bar{p}$, $K_{S}^{0}$, and $\rho^{0}$ at mid-rapidity in p+p and Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$ = 200 GeV. Perturbative QCD calculations are consistent with $\pi^{\pm}$ spectra in p+p collisions but do not reproduce $K$ and $p(\bar{p})$ spectra. The observed decreasing antiparticle-to-particle ratios with increasing $p_T$ provide experimental evidence for varying quark and gluon jet contributions to high-$p_T$ hadron yields. The relative hadron abundances in Au+Au at $p_{T}{}^{>}_{\sim}8$ GeV/$c$ are measured to be similar to the p+p results, despite the expected Casimir effect for parton energy loss.
The invariant yields $d^2N/(2\pi p_T dp_T dy)$ of $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, $p$, and $\bar{p}$ from non-singly diffractive p+p collisions ($\sigma_{NSD} = 30.0 \pm 3.5$ mb), and NLO calculations with AKK [9] and DSS [10] FF. The uncertainty of yields due to the scale dependence as evaluated in [10] is about a factor of 2. Bars and boxes (bands) represent statistical and systematic uncertainties, respectively.
The invariant yields $d^2N/(2\pi p_T dp_T dy)$ of $K^0_S$ from non-singly diffractive p+p collisions ($\sigma_{NSD} = 30.0 \pm 3.5$ mb), and NLO calculations with AKK [9] and DSS [10] FF. The uncertainty of yields due to the scale dependence as evaluated in [10] is about a factor of 2. Bars and boxes (bands) represent statistical and systematic uncertainties, respectively.
The invariant yields $d^2N/(2\pi p_T dp_T dy)$ of $\rho^0$ from non-singly diffractive p+p collisions ($\sigma_{NSD} = 30.0 \pm 3.5$ mb), and NLO calculations with AKK [9] and DSS [10] FF. The uncertainty of yields due to the scale dependence as evaluated in [10] is about a factor of 2. Bars and boxes (bands) represent statistical and systematic uncertainties, respectively.
Pair correlations between large transverse momentum neutral pion triggers (p_T=4--7 GeV/c) and charged hadron partners (p_T=3--7 GeV/c) in central (0--20%) and midcentral (20--60%) Au+Au collisions are presented as a function of trigger orientation with respect to the reaction plane. The particles are at larger momentum than where jet shape modifications have been observed, and the correlations are sensitive to the energy loss of partons traveling through hot dense matter. An out-of-plane trigger particle produces only 26+/-20% of the away-side pairs that are observed opposite of an in-plane trigger particle. In contrast, near-side jet fragments are consistent with no suppression or dependence on trigger orientation with respect to the reaction plane. These observations are qualitatively consistent with a picture of little near-side parton energy loss either due to surface bias or fluctuations and increased away-side parton energy loss due to a long path through the medium. The away-side suppression as a function of reaction-plane angle is shown to be sensitive to both the energy loss mechanism in and the space-time evolution of heavy-ion collisions.
Delta phi / Correlation Function 3-4 GeV/c partners
Delta phi / Correlation Function 3-4 GeV/c partners
$p^{a}_{T} = 3-4$ GeV/$c$
Azimuthal angle (Delta phi) correlations are presented for a broad range of transverse momentum (0.4 < pT < 10 GeV/c) and centrality (0-92%) selections for charged hadrons from di-jets in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. With increasing pT, the away-side Delta phi distribution evolves from a broad and relatively flat shape to a concave shape, then to a convex shape. Comparisons to p+p data suggest that the away-side distribution can be divided into a partially suppressed head region centered at Delta phi ~ \pi, and an enhanced shoulder region centered at Delta phi ~ \pi \pm 1:1. The pT spectrum for the associated hadrons in the head region softens toward central collisions. The spectral slope for the shoulder region is independent of centrality and trigger pT . The properties of the near-side distributions are also modified relative to those in p + p collisions, reflected by the broadening of the jet shape in Delta phi and Delta eta, and an enhancement of the per-trigger yield. However, these modifications seem to be limited to pT < 4 GeV/c, above which both the dihadron pair shape and per-trigger yield become similar to p + p collisions. These observations suggest that both the away- and near-side distributions contain a jet fragmentation component which dominates for pT \ge 5GeV and a medium-induced component which is important for pT \le 4 GeV/c. We also quantify the role of jets at intermediate and low pT through the yield of jet-induced pairs in comparison to binary scaled p + p pair yield. The yield of jet-induced pairs is suppressed at high pair proxy energy (sum of the pT magnitudes of the two hadrons) and is enhanced at low pair proxy energy. The former is consistent with jet quenching/ the latter is consistent with the enhancement of soft hadron pairs due to transport of lost energy to lower pT.
Per-trigger yield versus $\Delta\phi$ for various trigger and partner $p_T$ ($p^a_T \otimes p^b_T$), arranged by increasing pair proxy energy (sum of $p^a_T$ and $p^b_T$), in p + p collisions for 5-10 $\otimes$ 2-3, 4-5 $\otimes$ 4-5, 5-10 $\otimes$ 3-5, and 5-10 $\otimes$ 5-10 GeV/c.
Per-trigger yield versus $\Delta\phi$ for various trigger and partner $p_T$ ($p^a_T \otimes p^b_T$), arranged by increasing pair proxy energy (sum of $p^a_T$ and $p^b_T$), in p + p collisions for 3-4 $\otimes$ 0.4-1, 3-4 $\otimes$ 1-2, 3-4 $\otimes$ 2-3, and 3-4 $\otimes$ 3-4 GeV/c.
Per-trigger yield versus $\Delta\phi$ for various trigger and partner $p_T$ ($p^a_T \otimes p^b_T$), arranged by increasing pair proxy energy (sum of $p^a_T$ and $p^b_T$), in Au + Au collisions for 3-4 $\otimes$ 0.4-1, 3-4 $\otimes$ 1-2, 3-4 $\otimes$ 2-3, and 3-4 $\otimes$ 3-4 GeV/c.
The PHENIX experiment at RHIC has measured charged hadron yields at mid-rapidity over a wide range of transverse momentum (0.5 < p_T < 10 GeV/c) in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV. The data are compared to pi^zero measurements from the same experiment. For both charged hadrons and neutral pions, the yields per nucleon-nucleon collision are significantly suppressed in central compared to peripheral and nucleon-nucleon collisions. The suppression sets in gradually and increases with increasing centrality of the collisions. Above 4-5 GeV/c in p_T, a constant and almost identical suppression of charged hadrons and pi^zeroes is observed. The p_T spectra are compared to published spectra from Au+Au at sqrt(s_NN)=130 in terms of x_t scaling. Central and peripheral pi^zero as well as peripheral charged spectra exhibit the same x_t scaling as observed in p+p data.
$p_T$ spectra of charged hadrons for minimum bias collisions along with spectra for 9 centrality classes derived from the pseudo-rapidity region $|\eta|$ < 0.18. Stat. stands for statistical error, syst. stands for the systematic errors and occ. stands for occupancy error.
$p_T$ spectra of charged hadrons for minimum bias collisions along with spectra for 9 centrality classes derived from the pseudo-rapidity region $|\eta|$ < 0.18. Stat. stands for statistical error, syst. stands for the systematic errors and occ. stands for occupancy error.
$p_T$ spectra of charged hadrons for minimum bias collisions along with spectra for 9 centrality classes derived from the pseudo-rapidity region $|\eta|$ < 0.18. Stat. stands for statistical error, syst. stands for the systematic errors and occ. stands for occupancy error.
The centrality dependence of transverse momentum distributions and yields for pi^+/-, K^+/-, p and p^bar in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV at mid-rapidity are measured by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC. We observe a clear particle mass dependence of the shapes of transverse momentum spectra in central collisions below ~ 2 GeV/c in p_T. Both mean transverse momenta and particle yields per participant pair increase from peripheral to mid-central and saturate at the most central collisions for all particle species. We also measure particle ratios of pi^-/pi^+, K^-/K^+, p^bar/p, K/pi, p/pi and p^bar/pi as a function of p_T and collision centrality. The ratios of equal mass particle yields are independent of p_T and centrality within the experimental uncertainties. In central collisions at intermediate transverse momenta ~ 1.5-4.5 GeV/c, proton and anti-proton yields constitute a significant fraction of the charged hadron production and show a scaling behavior different from that of pions.
Centrality dependence of the $p_{T}$ distribution for $\pi^{+}$ in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. Errors are statistical only.
Centrality dependence of the $p_{T}$ distribution for $\pi^{-}$ in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. Errors are statistical only.
Centrality dependence of the $p_{T}$ distribution for $K^{+}$ in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. Errors are statistical only.
We report high statistics measurements of inclusive charged hadron production in Au+Au and p+p collisions at \sqrtsNN=200 GeV. A large, approximately constant hadron suppression is observed in central Au+Au collisions for $5\lt\pT\lt12$ GeV/c. The collision energy dependence of the yields and the centrality and \pT dependence of the suppression provide stringent constraints on theoretical models of suppression. Models incorporating initial-state gluon saturation or partonic energy loss in dense matter are largely consistent with observations. We observe no evidence of \pT-dependent suppression, which may be expected from models incorporating jet attentuation in cold nuclear matter or scattering of fragmentation hadrons.
Inclusive invariant pT distributions of (h+ + h−)/2 for centrality-selected Au+Au and p+p NSD interactions. Hash marks at the top indicate bin boundaries for pT>4 GeV/c.The invariant cross section for p+p is indicated on the right vertical axis.
R200/130(pT ) vs. pT for (h+ + h−)/2 for four different centrality bins. The overall normalization uncertainty is +6−14% for the 40-60% bin and is negligible for the other panels. Calculations are described in the text.
RAA(pT) (Eq. 1) for (h+ + h−)/2 in |η|<0.5, for centrality-selected Au+Au spectra relative to the measured p+p spectrum. The p+p spectrum is common to all panels. Calculations are described in the text.
Inclusive transverse momentum distributions of charged hadrons within 0.2
Inclusive $p_T$ distributions of ($h^+ + h^−)/2$. Non-central bins are scaled down by the indicated factors. The combined statistical and systematic errors are shown. Curves are fits to Eq. (2). Hash marks at the top indicate bin boundaries for $p_T>1.5$ GeV/c.
Ratio of charged hadron yields within $|\eta| < 0.5$ for central over peripheral collisions, normalized to $\langle Nbin\rangle$.
$R_{AA}$($p_T$) for various centrality bins, for Au+Au relative to an NN reference spectrum. Error bars are described in the text. Errors between different $p_T$ and centrality bins are highly correlated.