Measurements of neutral pion production at midrapidity in sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV Au+Au collisions as a function of transverse momentum, p_T, collision centrality, and angle with respect to reaction plane are presented. The data represent the final pi^0 results from the PHENIX experiment for the first RHIC Au+Au run at design center-of-mass-energy. They include additional data obtained using the PHENIX Level-2 trigger with more than a factor of three increase in statistics over previously published results for p_T > 6 GeV/c. We evaluate the suppression in the yield of high-p_T pi^0's relative to point-like scaling expectations using the nuclear modification factor R_AA. We present the p_T dependence of R_AA for nine bins in collision centrality. We separately integrate R_AA over larger p_T bins to show more precisely the centrality dependence of the high-p_T suppression. We then evaluate the dependence of the high-p_T suppression on the emission angle \Delta\phi of the pions with respect to event reaction plane for 7 bins in collision centrality. We show that the yields of high-p_T pi^0's vary strongly with \Delta\phi, consistent with prior measurements. We show that this variation persists in the most peripheral bin accessible in this analysis. For the peripheral bins we observe no suppression for neutral pions produced aligned with the reaction plane while the yield of pi^0's produced perpendicular to the reaction plane is suppressed by more than a factor of 2. We analyze the combined centrality and \Delta\phi dependence of the pi^0 suppression in different p_T bins using different possible descriptions of parton energy loss dependence on jet path-length averages to determine whether a single geometric picture can explain the observed suppression pattern.
Neutral pion invariant yields as a function of $p_T$ measured in minimum bias and 9 centrality classes in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
Neutral pion invariant yields as a function of $p_T$ measured in minimum bias and 9 centrality classes in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
Neutral pion invariant yields as a function of $p_T$ measured in minimum bias and 9 centrality classes in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
Bose-Einstein correlations of identically charged pion pairs were measured by the PHENIX experiment at mid-rapidity in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 200 GeV. The Bertsch-Pratt radius parameters were determined as a function of the transverse momentum of the pair and as a function of the centrality of the collision. Using the \it{full} Coulomb correction, the ratio $R_{\rm out}/R_{\rm side}$ is smaller than unity for $<k_{\rm T}>$ from 0.25 to 1.2 GeV/c and for all measured centralities. However, using recently developed partial Coulomb correction methods, we find that $R_{\rm out}/R_{\rm side}$ is 0.8-1.1 for the measured $<k_{\rm T}>$ range, and approximately constant at unity with the number of participants.
Panel (a) and (b) show one-dimensional correlation functions for $\pi^+\pi^+$ and $\pi^-\pi^-$. The bottom figures show the three-dimensional correlation function for $\pi^-\pi^-$ with the full Coulomb (open circle) and without Coulomb (filled triangle) corrections for 0.2 < $k_T$ < 2.0 GeV/$c$ for 0-30% centrality. The projection of the 3-D correlation functions are averaged over the lowest 40 MeV in the orthogonal directions. The error bars are statistical only. The lines overlaid on the open circles (filled triangles) correspond to fits to Eq. 1 (Eq. 2) over the entire distribution. Panel (c) shows the one-dimensional correlation function of unlike-signed pions for 0.2 < $k_T$ < 2.0 GeV/$c$. The two overlaid histograms show calculations for the full (dashed) and the 50% partial (solid) Coulomb corrections. $<k_T>$ ~ 0.45 ($\pm$0.17) GeV/$c$ and $<N_{part}>$ ~ 281 ($\pm$4).
The $k_T$ dependence of the Bertsch-Pratt radius parameters and $\lambda$ for charged pions for 0-30% centrality. Filled triangles show the results from fits to a core-halo structure by Eq. 2, with statistical error bars and systematic error bands. Open circles and squares show the results from the full (Eq. 1) and 50% partial (Eq. 3) Coulomb corrections with statistical error bars, respectively. Results at 130 GeV by PHENIX are given by filled circles.
The $k_T$ dependence of the Bertsch-Pratt radius parameters and $\lambda$ for charged pions for 0-30% centrality. Filled triangles show the results from fits to a core-halo structure by Eq. 2, with statistical error bars and systematic error bands. Open circles and squares show the results from the full (Eq. 1) and 50% partial (Eq. 3) Coulomb corrections with statistical error bars, respectively. Results at 130 GeV by PHENIX are given by filled circles.
The PHENIX experiment has measured mid-rapidity transverse momentum spectra (0.4 < p_T < 4.0 GeV/c) of single electrons as a function of centrality in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. Contributions to the raw spectra from photon conversions and Dalitz decays of light neutral mesons are measured by introducing a thin (1.7% X_0) converter into the PHENIX acceptance and are statistically removed. The subtracted ``non-photonic'' electron spectra are primarily due to the semi-leptonic decays of hadrons containing heavy quarks (charm and bottom). For all centralities, charm production is found to scale with the nuclear overlap function, T_AA. For minimum-bias collisions the charm cross section per binary collision is N_cc^bar/T_AA = 622 +/- 57 (stat.) +/- 160 (sys.) microbarns.
Value of the Alpha power as used in a fit of dN/dy versus Ncoll of the form A*Ncoll^Alpha, where N is the non photonic electron yield and Ncoll the number of p+p collisions This value only includes data from Au+Au collisions The value of Alpha = 1 is the expectation in the absence of medium effects.
Value of the Alpha power as used in a fit of dN/dy versus Ncoll, of the form A*Ncoll^Alpha, where N is the non photonic electron yield and Ncoll the number of p+p collisions This value is calculated including previous data of p+p collisions, measured by PHENIX, in addition of the Au+Au data The value of Alpha = 1 is the expectation in the absence of medium effects.
Spectrum in transverse momentum of electrons created in open heavy flavor decays, for minimum bias events.
The first measurement of direct photons in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV is presented. The direct photon signal is extracted as a function of the Au+Au collision centrality and compared to NLO pQCD calculations. The direct photon yield is shown to scale with the number of nucleon-nucleon collisions for all centralities.
Double ratio of measured $(\gamma/\pi^0)_{Measured}$ invariant yield ratio to the background decay $(\gamma/\pi^0)_{Background}$ ratio as a function of $p_T$ for minimum bias and for five centralities of Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. The bin range is not an uncertainty in the x-axis because the actual uncertainty by having the finite bin width is corrected for by the bin-shift correction. These bins were constructed using the corrected finite values as centers.
Double ratio of measured $(\gamma/\pi^0)_{Measured}$ invariant yield ratio to the background decay $(\gamma/\pi^0)_{Background}$ ratio as a function of $p_T$ for minimum bias and for five centralities of Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. The bin range is not an uncertainty in the x-axis because the actual uncertainty by having the finite bin width is corrected for by the bin-shift correction. These bins were constructed using the corrected finite values as centers.
Direct $\gamma$ invariant yields as a function of transverse momentum for 9 centrality selections and minimum bias Au+AU collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. Data with no errors represents 90% confidence level upper limit. The bin range is not an uncertainty in the x-axis because the actual uncertainty by having the finite bin width is corrected for by the bin-shift correction. These bins were constructed using the corrected finite values as centers.
Inclusive transverse momentum spectra of eta mesons have been measured within p_T = 2-10 GeV/c at mid-rapidity by the PHENIX experiment in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. In central Au+Au the eta yields are significantly suppressed compared to peripheral Au+Au, d+Au and p+p yields scaled by the corresponding number of nucleon-nucleon collisions. The magnitude, centrality and p_T dependence of the suppression is common, within errors, for eta and pi^0. The ratio of eta to pi^0 spectra at high p_T amounts to 0.40 < R_eta/pi^0 < 0.48 for the three systems in agreement with the world average measured in hadronic and nuclear reactions and, at large scaled momentum, in e^+e^- collisions.
Invariant $\eta$ yields as a function of transverse momentum for 3 centralities and MB Au+Au at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
Invariant $\eta$ yields as a function of transverse momentum for 3 centralities and MB Au+Au at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
Nuclear modification factors for $\eta$ in Au+Au centralities.
The production of deuterons and antideuterons in the transverse momentum range 1.1 < p_T < 4.3 GeV/c at mid-rapidity in Au + Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV has been studied by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC. A coalescence analysis comparing the deuteron and antideuteron spectra with those of protons and antiprotons, has been performed. The coalescence probability is equal for both deuterons and antideuterons and increases as a function of p_T, which is consistent with an expanding collision zone. Comparing (anti)proton yields p_bar/p = 0.73 +/- 0.01, with (anti)deuteron yields: d_bar/d = 0.47 +/- 0.03, we estimate that n_bar/n = 0.64 +/- 0.04.
Corrected spectra for deuterons and anti-deuterons for different centralities are plotted vs $m_T$.
Corrected spectra for deuterons and anti-deuterons for different centralities are plotted vs $m_T$.
Coalescence parameter $B_2$ vs $p_T$ for deuterons (left panel) and anti-deuterons (right panel). Grey bands indicate the systematic errors. Values are plotted at the "true" mean value of $p_T$ of each bin, the extent of which is indicated by the width of the grey bars along x-axis.
The anisotropy parameter v_2, the second harmonic of the azimuthal particles distribution, has been measured with the PHENIX detector in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV for identified and inclusive charged particles at central rapidities (|eta| < 0.35) with respect to the reaction plane defined at high rapidities (|eta| = 3-4). The v_2 for all particles reaches a maximum at mid-centrality, and increases with p_T up to 2 GeV/c and then saturates or decreases slightly. Our results depart from hydrodynamically predicted behavior above 2 GeV/c. A quark coalescence model is also investigated.
Correlation of reaction planes between two beam counters for the second moment is shown as a function of centrality.
The value of $v_2$ for charged particles is shown as a function of centrality (middle) and as a function of $p_T$ (right).
The value of $v_2$ for charged particles is shown as a function of transverse momentum, $p_T$.
Emission source functions are extracted from correlation functions constructed from charged pions produced at mid-rapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV. The source parameters extracted from these functions at low k_T, give first indications of a long tail for the pion emission source. The source extension cannot be explained solely by simple kinematic considerations. The possible role of a halo of secondary pions from resonance emissions is explored.
Correlation function, C(q) for $\pi^+\pi^+$ and $\pi^-\pi^-$ pairs.
Correlation function, C(q) for $\pi^+\pi^+$ and $\pi^-\pi^-$ pairs.
Correlation function, C(q) for $\pi^+\pi^+$ and $\pi^-\pi^-$ pairs.
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.
Inclusive transverse momentum spectra of eta mesons in the range p_T~2-12 GeV/c have been measured at mid-rapidity (|\eta| < 0,35) by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC in p+p, d+Au and Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. The eta mesons are reconstructed through their eta--> \gamma\gamma channel for the three colliding systems as well as through the eta-->pi^0 pi+ pi- decay mode in p+p and d+Au collisions. The nuclear modification factor in d+Au collisions, R_dAu(p_T~1.0-1.1, suggests at most only modest p_T broadening (Cronin enhancement). In central Au+Au reactions, the eta yields are significantly suppressed, with R_AuAu(pT)~0.2. The ratio of eta to pi^0 yields is approximately constant as a function of p_T for the three colliding systems in agreement with the high-p_T world average of R_eta/pi^0 \approx 0.5 in hadron-hadron, hadron-nucleus, and nucleus-nucleus collisions for a wide range of center-of-mass energies [sqrt(s_NN)~3-1800 GeV] as well as, for high scaled momentum x_p, in e+e- annihilations at sqrt(s)=91.2 GeV. These results are consistent with a scenario where high-p_T eta production in nuclear collisions at RHIC is largely unaffected by initial-state effects, but where light-quark mesons (pi^0:eta) are equally suppressed due to final-state interactions of the parent partons in the dense medium produced in Au+Au reactions.
Inelastic cross section measured in p+p at $\sqrt{s}$=200 GeV through $\eta \rightarrow \gamma \gamma$
Inelastic cross section measured in p+p at $\sqrt{s}$=200 GeV through $\eta \rightarrow \pi^{0} \pi^{+} \pi^{-}$
Inelastic cross section measured in d+Au at $\sqrt{s}$=200 GeV through $\eta \rightarrow \gamma \gamma$
Forum