New measurements are presented for charged hadron azimuthal correlations at mid-rapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 62.4 and 200 GeV. They are compared to earlier measurements obtained at sqrt(s_NN) = 130 GeV and in Pb+Pb collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 17.2 GeV. Sizeable anisotropies are observed with centrality and transverse momentum (p_T) dependence characteristic of elliptic flow (v_2). For a broad range of centralities, the observed magnitudes and trends of the differential anisotropy, v_2(p_T), change very little over the collision energy range sqrt(s_NN) = 62-200 GeV, indicating saturation of the excitation function for v_2 at these energies. Such a saturation may be indicative of the dominance of a very soft equation of state for sqrt(s_NN) = 62-200 GeV.
Assorted-$p_T$ correlation functions (0.65 < $p_{T,ref}$ < 2.5 GeV/$c$) for charged hadrons of 0.5 < $p_T$ < 0.7 GeV/$c$ and 1.0 < $p_T$ < 1.5 obtained in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{S_{NN}}$ = 62.4 GeV.
Differential anisotropy $v_2$($p_T$) for charged hadrons in Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV obtained via cumulants method
Differential anisotropy $v_2$($p_T$) for charged hadrons in Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV obtained via correlation function method
We report on two-particle azimuthal angle correlations between charged hadrons at forward/backward (deuteron/gold going direction) rapidity and charged hadrons at mid-rapidity in deuteron-gold (d+Au) and proton-proton (p+p) collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. Jet structures are observed in the correlations which we quantify in terms of the conditional yield and angular width of away side partners. The kinematic region studied here samples partons in the gold nucleus carrying nucleon momentum fraction x~0.1 to x~0.01. Within this range, we find no x dependence of the jet structure in d+Au collisions.
Azimuthal angle correlation functions. Note that the y-axis is zero-suppressed on the middle and bottom panels. In the additonal resource, the Gaussian widths from the fits and the signal to background ration integrated over $\pi$ - 1 < $\Delta\phi$ < $\pi$ + 1 are shown.
Conditional yields (CY) shown as a function of trigger particle pseudorapitidy for trigger particle $p_T$ from 2.5 to 4.0 and associated particle $p_T$ from 1.0 to 2.5 GeV/$c$. The additional $\pm$0.037 systematic error on the mid-rapidity $p+p$ point is from jet yield extraction. There is a 1% point-by-point systematical error on all points except central arm triggers. There is also a 10% systematic error for all data points due to the determination of associated particle efficiency. For $p + p$ point, forward and backward trigger are combined, so the results are identical.
$I_{dAu}$ vs. $p_T^{assoc}$ for different centrality, $p_T^{trig}$ and $\eta^{trig}$ bins.
We report the measurement of direct photons at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt{s_NN} = 200 GeV. The direct photon signal was extracted for the transverse-momentum range of 4 GeV/c < p_T < 22 GeV/c, using a statistical method to subtract decay photons from the inclusive-photon sample. The direct-photon nuclear-modification factor R_AA was calculated as a function of p_T for different Au+Au collision centralities using the measured p+p direct-photon spectrum and compared to theoretical predictions. R_AA was found to be consistent with unity for all centralities over the entire measured p_T range. Theoretical models that account for modifications of initial-direct-photon production due to modified-parton-distribution functions in Au and the different isospin composition of the nuclei, predict a modest change of R_AA from unity and are consistent with the data. Models with compensating effects of the quark-gluon plasma on high-energy photons, such as suppression of jet-fragmentation photons and induced-photon bremsstrahlung from partons traversing the medium, are also consistent with this measurement.
Direct photon spectra for all centrality selections in Au+Au.
Direct photon nuclear modification factor ($R_{AA}$)
The PHENIX collaboration presents first measurements of low-momentum ($0.4
Direct photon spectra(Physical Review C87, 054907 (2013)) normalized by $(dN_{ch}/d\eta)^{1.25}$ for in p+p at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$= 200 GeV.
Direct photon spectra(Physics Letters B94, 106 (1980)) normalized by $(dN_{ch}/d\eta)^{1.25}$ for in p+p at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$= 62.4 GeV.
Direct photon spectra(Nucl. Part. Phys. 23, A1 (1997) and Sov. J. Nucl. Phys. 51, 836 (1990)) normalized by $(dN_{ch}/d\eta)^{1.25}$ for in p+p at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$= 63 GeV.
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.
Differential elliptic flow (v_2) for phi mesons and (anti)deuterons (d^bar)d is measured for Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. The v_2 for phi mesons follows the trend of lighter pi^+/- and K^+/- mesons, suggesting that ordinary hadrons interacting with standard hadronic cross sections are not the primary driver for elliptic flow development. The v_2 values for (d^bar)d suggest that elliptic flow is additive for composite particles. This further validation of the universal scaling of v_2 per constituent quark for baryons and mesons suggests that partonic collectivity dominates the transverse expansion dynamics.
$m_{inv}$ distributions for foreground and background $K^+ K^-$ pairs for 20-60% central Au+Au collisions.
$m_{inv}$ distributions
$<cos(2(\varphi^{pair}-\Phi_2))>$ vs. $m_{inv}$.
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.
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).
Bose-Einstein correlations of charged kaons are measured for Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV and are compared to charged pion probes, which have a larger hadronic scattering cross section. Three dimensional Gaussian source radii are extracted, along with a one-dimensional kaon emission source function. The centrality dependences of the three Gaussian radii are well described by a single linear function if N_part^1/3 with zero intercept. Imaging analysis shows a deviation from a Gaussian tail at r >~ 10 fm, although the bulk emission at lower radius is well-described by a Gaussian. The presence of a non-Gaussian tail in the kaon source reaffirms that the particle emission region in a heavy ion collision is extended, and that similar measurements with pions are not solely due to the decay of long-lived resonances.
3D correlation function of charged kaon pairs measured for 0.3 < $k_T$ < 1.5 GeV/$c$ at 0-30% centrality in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
3D Gaussian HBT radius parameters for charged kaon pairs as a function of $N_{part}^{1/3}$ measured for 0.3 < $k_T$ < 1.5 GeV/$c$ and $m_T$ measured for 0-30% centrality in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
3D Gaussian HBT radius parameters for charged kaon pairs as a function of $N_{part}^{1/3}$ measured for 0.3 < $k_T$ < 1.5 GeV/$c$ and $m_T$ measured for 0-30% centrality in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
We report PHENIX measurements of the correlation of a trigger hadron at intermediate transverse momentum (2.5
<p>Correlation functions for associated partner mesons for centrality selections of 20-40% and 70-90%.</p> <p><i>Note that only statistical uncertainties are available.</i></p>
<p>Correlation functions for associated partner baryons for centrality selections of 20-40% and 70-90%.</p> <p><i>Note that only statistical uncertainties are available.</i></p>
<p>Jet-pair distributions for associated mesons for $1 < p_{T,assoc} < 1.3\ \mathrm{GeV}/c$ and $1.6 < p_{T,assoc} < 2.0\ \mathrm{GeV}/c$. Results are for a hadron trigger $2.5 < p_T < 4.0\ \mathrm{GeV}/c$ and centrality selections of 0-20% and 20-40%.</p> <p><i>Note that only statistical uncertainties are available.</i></p>
Two particle correlations between identified meson and baryon trigger particles with 2.5 < p_T < 4.0 GeV/c and lower p_T charged hadrons have been measured at midrapidity by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC in p+p, d+Au and Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. The probability of finding a hadron near in azimuthal angle to the trigger particle is almost identical for leading mesons and baryons for non-central Au+Au. The yield for both trigger baryons and mesons is significantly higher in Au+Au than in p+p and d+Au, except for trigger baryons in central collisions. The baryon excess is likely to arise predominantly from hard scattering processes.
$\Delta\phi$ distributions for meson and baryon triggers with 2.5 < $p_T$ < 4.0 GeV/$c$ and associated charged hadrons with 1.7 < $p_T$ < 2.5 GeV/$c$ for five centralities in Au+Au collisions.
$\Delta\phi$ distributions for meson triggers with 2.5 < $p_T$ < 4.0 GeV/$c$ and associated charged hadrons with 1.7 < $p_T$ < 2.5 GeV/$c$ in $d$+Au collisions.
$\Delta\phi$ distributions unidentified triggers with 2.5 < $p_T$ < 4.0 GeV/$c$ and associated charged hadrons with 1.7 < $p_T$ < 2.5 GeV/$c$ in $p$+$p$ collisions.