We study the beam-energy and system-size dependence of \phi meson production (using the hadronic decay mode \phi -- K+K-) by comparing the new results from Cu+Cu collisions and previously reported Au+Au collisions at \sqrt{s_NN} = 62.4 and 200 GeV measured in the STAR experiment at RHIC. Data presented are from mid-rapidity (|y|<0.5) for 0.4 < pT < 5 GeV/c. At a given beam energy, the transverse momentum distributions for \phi mesons are observed to be similar in yield and shape for Cu+Cu and Au+Au colliding systems with similar average numbers of participating nucleons. The \phi meson yields in nucleus-nucleus collisions, normalised by the average number of participating nucleons, are found to be enhanced relative to those from p+p collisions with a different trend compared to strange baryons. The enhancement for \phi mesons is observed to be higher at \sqrt{s_NN} = 200 GeV compared to 62.4 GeV. These observations for the produced \phi(s\bar{s}) mesons clearly suggest that, at these collision energies, the source of enhancement of strange hadrons is related to the formation of a dense partonic medium in high energy nucleus-nucleus collisions and cannot be alone due to canonical suppression of their production in smaller systems.
Midrapidity $(|y| < 0.5)$ transverse momentum spectra of $\phi$ mesons for various collision centrality classes for $Cu+Cu$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=62.4$ and 200 GeV. To study the system size dependence, comparison of $40-50\%$ $Au+Au$ spectra to $10-20\%$ $Cu+Cu$ spectra at 200 GeV, and $40-60\%$ $Au+Au$ spectra to $20-30\%$ $Cu+Cu$ spectra at 62.4 GeV are shown. These centralities for the two colliding systems have similar $\langle N_{\scriptsize{\mbox{part}}}\rangle$ values as outlined in Table 2. The errors represent the statistical and systematic errors added in quadrature. They are found to be within the symbol size. The spectra are fitted to a Levy function discussed in the text.
Midrapidity $(|y| < 0.5)$ transverse momentum spectra of $\phi$ mesons for various collision centrality classes for $Cu+Cu$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=62.4$ and 200 GeV. To study the system size dependence, comparison of $40-50\%$ $Au+Au$ spectra to $10-20\%$ $Cu+Cu$ spectra at 200 GeV, and $40-60\%$ $Au+Au$ spectra to $20-30\%$ $Cu+Cu$ spectra at 62.4 GeV are shown. These centralities for the two colliding systems have similar $\langle N_{\scriptsize{\mbox{part}}}\rangle$ values as outlined in Table 2. The errors represent the statistical and systematic errors added in quadrature. They are found to be within the symbol size. The spectra are fitted to a Levy function discussed in the text.
Upper panels. $N_{\scriptsize{\mbox{part}}}$ scaled ($R^{N_{\scriptsize{\mbox{part}}}}_{AA}$) nuclear modification factors as a function of $p_{T}$ of $\phi$ mesons for $0-10\%$ and $20-30\%$ $Cu+Cu$ and $Au+Au$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV. Lower panel. Same as above for $N_{\scriptsize{\mbox{bin}}}$ scaled ($R^{N_{\scriptsize{\mbox{bin}}}}_{AA}$) nuclear modification factor. The error bars represent the statistical and systematic errors added in quadrature. The shaded band in upper panel around 1 at $p_{T}=4.5-5.5$ GeV/$c$ in the right side reflects the uncertainty in $N_{\scriptsize{\mbox{part}}}$ and that on the lower panel for $N_{\scriptsize{\mbox{bin}}}$ calculation for central $Au+Au$ collisions. The respective uncertainties for central $Cu+Cu$ collisions are of similar order.
We present the first spin alignment measurements for the $K^{*0}(892)$ and $\phi(1020)$ vector mesons produced at mid-rapidity with transverse momenta up to 5 GeV/c at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV at RHIC. The diagonal spin density matrix elements with respect to the reaction plane in Au+Au collisions are $\rho_{00}$ = 0.32 $\pm$ 0.04 (stat) $\pm$ 0.09 (syst) for the $K^{*0}$ ($0.8<p_T<5.0$ GeV/c) and $\rho_{00}$ = 0.34 $\pm$ 0.02 (stat) $\pm$ 0.03 (syst) for the $\phi$ ($0.4<p_T<5.0$ GeV/c), and are constant with transverse momentum and collision centrality. The data are consistent with the unpolarized expectation of 1/3 and thus no evidence is found for the transfer of the orbital angular momentum of the colliding system to the vector meson spins. Spin alignments for $K^{*0}$ and $\phi$ in Au+Au collisions were also measured with respect to the particle's production plane. The $\phi$ result, $\rho_{00}$ = 0.41 $\pm$ 0.02 (stat) $\pm$ 0.04 (syst), is consistent with that in p+p collisions, $\rho_{00}$ = 0.39 $\pm$ 0.03 (stat) $\pm$ 0.06 (syst), also measured in this work. The measurements thus constrain the possible size of polarization phenomena in the production dynamics of vector mesons.
The spin-density matrix elements $\rho_{00}$ with respect to the reaction plane in midcentral $Au+Au$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV versus $p_{T}$ of the vector meson. The sizes of the statistical uncertainties are indicated by error bars, and the systematic uncertainties by caps. The $K^{∗0}$ data points have been shifted slightly in $p_{T}$ for clarity. The dashed horizontal line indicates the unpolarized expectation $\rho_{00}=1/3$. The bands and continuous horizontal lines show predictions discussed in the text.
The dependence of $\rho_{00}$ with respect to the reaction plane on the number of participants at midrapidity in $Au+Au$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV. The sizes of the statistical uncertainties are indicated by error bars and the systematic uncertainties by caps. The $\phi$ data for $p_{T} > 2$ GeV/$c$ and the $K^{∗0}$ data points have been shifted slightly in $\langle N_{\scriptsize{\mbox{part}}}\rangle$ for clarity. The dashed horizontal line indicates the unpolarized expectation $\rho_{00}=1/3$.
The spin-density matrix elements $\rho_{00}$ with respect to the production plane in midcentral $Au+Au$ and $p+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV versus $p_{T}$ of the vector meson. The sizes of the statistical uncertainties are indicated by error bars and the systematic uncertainties by caps. The $K^{*0}$ and the $\phi$ $p+p$ data points have been shifted slightly in $p_{T}$ for clarity. The dashed horizontal line indicates the unpolarized expectation $\rho_{00}=1/3$.
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