The cross section for $e^+ e^- \to \pi^+ \pi^- J/\psi$ between 3.8 GeV and 5.5 GeV is measured with a 967 fb$^{-1}$ data sample collected by the Belle detector at or near the $\Upsilon(nS)$ ($n = 1,\ 2,\ ...,\ 5$) resonances. The Y(4260) state is observed, and its resonance parameters are determined. In addition, an excess of $\pi^+ \pi^- J/\psi$ production around 4 GeV is observed. This feature can be described by a Breit-Wigner parameterization with properties that are consistent with the Y(4008) state that was previously reported by Belle. In a study of $Y(4260) \to \pi^+ \pi^- J/\psi$ decays, a structure is observed in the $M(\pi^\pm\jpsi)$ mass spectrum with $5.2\sigma$ significance, with mass $M=(3894.5\pm 6.6\pm 4.5) {\rm MeV}/c^2$ and width $\Gamma=(63\pm 24\pm 26)$ MeV/$c^{2}$, where the errors are statistical and systematic, respectively. This structure can be interpreted as a new charged charmonium-like state.
Measured cross section with statistical errors only.
(abridged for arXiv) We report results from the BICEP2 experiment, a cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarimeter specifically designed to search for the signal of inflationary gravitational waves in the B-mode power spectrum around $\ell\sim80$. The telescope comprised a 26 cm aperture all-cold refracting optical system equipped with a focal plane of 512 antenna coupled transition edge sensor 150 GHz bolometers each with temperature sensitivity of $\approx300\mu\mathrm{K}_\mathrm{CMB}\sqrt{s}$. BICEP2 observed from the South Pole for three seasons from 2010 to 2012. A low-foreground region of sky with an effective area of 380 square deg was observed to a depth of 87 nK deg in Stokes $Q$ and $U$. We find an excess of $B$-mode power over the base lensed-LCDM expectation in the range $30< \ell< 150$, inconsistent with the null hypothesis at a significance of $> 5\sigma$. Through jackknife tests and simulations we show that systematic contamination is much smaller than the observed excess. We also examine a number of available models of polarized dust emission and find that at their default parameter values they predict power $\sim(5-10)\times$ smaller than the observed excess signal. However, these models are not sufficiently constrained to exclude the possibility of dust emission bright enough to explain the entire excess signal. Cross correlating BICEP2 against 100 GHz maps from the BICEP1 experiment, the excess signal is confirmed and its spectral index is found to be consistent with that of the CMB, disfavoring dust at $1.7\sigma$. The observed $B$-mode power spectrum is well fit by a lensed-LCDM + tensor theoretical model with tensor-to-scalar ratio $r=0.20^{+0.07}_{-0.05}$, with $r=0$ disfavored at $7.0\sigma$. Accounting for the contribution of foreground dust will shift this value downward by an amount which will be better constrained with upcoming data sets.
BICEP2 TT, TE, EE, BB, TB, and EB bandpowers, ell*(ell+1)*C(ell)/(2*PI), and uncertainties, corresponding to Figure 2. Uncertainties are statistical only, the standard deviation of the constrained lensed-LambdaCDM+noise simulations, and are calculated as the square root of diagonal elements of the bandpower covariance matrix. The nature of the simulations constrains T to match the observed sky, thus TT, TE, and TB uncertainties do not include appropriate sample variance, and sample variance for a tensor BB signal is not included either. The calibration procedure uses TB and EB to constrain the polarization angle, thus TB and EB cannot be used to measure astrophysical polarization rotation.
Likelihood for the tensor-to-scalar ratio, r, derived from the BICEP2 BB spectrum, corresponding to the black curve from the middle panel of Figure 10, and calculated via the "direct likelihood" method described in Section 11.1.
We use 772$\times 10^6$ $B \bar{B}$ meson pairs collected at the $\Upsilon(4S)$ resonance with the Belle detector to measure the branching fraction for $\bar{B} \rightarrow X_s \gamma$. Our measurement uses a sum-of-exclusives approach in which 38 of the hadronic final states with strangeness equal to $+1$, denoted by $X_s$, are reconstructed. The inclusive branching fraction for $M_{X_s}<$ 2.8 GeV/$c^2$, which corresponds to a minimum photon energy of 1.9 GeV, is measured to be ${\cal B}(\bar{B} \rightarrow X_s \gamma)=(3.51\pm0.17\pm0.33)\times10^{-4}$, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic.
The yields and partial branching fraction in each $M_{X_s}$ mass bin for the decay $\bar{B} \rightarrow X_s \gamma$, where $\bar{B}$ is either $\bar{B}^0$ or $B^-$, $X_s$ denotes all the hadron combinations that carry strangeness of +1, and charge conjugation is implied.
A first measurement is presented of exclusive photoproduction of $\rho^0$ mesons associated with leading neutrons at HERA. The data were taken with the H1 detector in the years $2006$ and $2007$ at a centre-of-mass energy of $\sqrt{s}=319$ GeV and correspond to an integrated luminosity of $1.16$ pb$^{-1}$. The $\rho^0$ mesons with transverse momenta $p_T<1$ GeV are reconstructed from their decays to charged pions, while leading neutrons carrying a large fraction of the incoming proton momentum, $x_L>0.35$, are detected in the Forward Neutron Calorimeter. The phase space of the measurement is defined by the photon virtuality $Q^2 < 2$ GeV$^2$, the total energy of the photon-proton system $20 < W_{\gamma p} < 100$ GeV and the polar angle of the leading neutron $\theta_n < 0.75$ mrad. The cross section of the reaction $\gamma p \to \rho^0 n \pi^+$ is measured as a function of several variables. The data are interpreted in terms of a double peripheral process, involving pion exchange at the proton vertex followed by elastic photoproduction of a $\rho^0$ meson on the virtual pion. In the framework of one-pion-exchange dominance the elastic cross section of photon-pion scattering, $\sigma^{\rm el}(\gamma\pi^+ \to \rho^0\pi^+)$, is extracted. The value of this cross section indicates significant absorptive corrections for the exclusive reaction $\gamma p\to\rho^0 n \pi^+$.
The $\gamma p$ cross section integrated in the domain $0.35 < x_L < 0.95$ and $-t^\prime < 1$~GeV$^2$ and averaged over the energy range $20 < W_{\gamma p} < 100$ GeV for two intervals of leading neutron transverse momentum.
Differential photoproduction cross sections ${\rm d}\sigma_{\gamma p}/{\rm d}x_L$ for the exclusive process $\gamma p \to \rho^0 n \pi^+$ in two regions of neutron transverse momentum and $20 < W_{\gamma p} < 100$ GeV. The statistical, uncorrelated and correlated systematic uncertainties, $\delta_{stat}$, $\delta_{sys}^{unc}$ and $\delta_{sys}^{cor}$ respectively, are given, which does not include the global normalisation error of $4.4\%$.
Double differential photoproduction cross sections ${\rm d^2}\sigma_{\gamma p}/{\rm d}x_L{\rm d}p_{T,n}^2$ in the range $20 < W_{\gamma p} < 100$ GeV. The statistical, uncorrelated and correlated systematic uncertainties, $\delta_{stat}$, $\delta_{sys}^{unc}$ and $\delta_{sys}^{cor}$ respectively, are given, which does not include the global normalisation error of $4.4\%$.
We report the direct virtual photon invariant yields in the transverse momentum ranges $1\!<\!p_{T}\!<\!3$ GeV/$c$ and $5\!<\!p_T\!<\!10$ GeV/$c$ at mid-rapidity derived from the dielectron invariant mass continuum region $0.10<M_{ee}<0.28$ GeV/$c^{2}$ for 0-80\% minimum-bias Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV. A clear excess in the invariant yield compared to the number-of-binary-collisions ($N_{bin}$) scaled $p+p$ reference is observed in the $p_T$ range $1\!<\!p_{T}\!<\!3$ GeV/$c$. For $p_T\!>6$ GeV/$c$ the production follows $N_{bin}$ scaling. Model calculations with contributions from thermal radiation and initial hard parton scattering are consistent within uncertainties with the direct virtual photon invariant yield.
Dielectron invariant mass spectra in 1.0-1.5 GeV/c.
Dielectron invariant mass spectra in 1.5-2.0 GeV/c.
Dielectron invariant mass spectra in 2.0-2.5 GeV/c.
We have performed the most comprehensive resonance-model fit of $\pi^-\pi^-\pi^+$ states using the results of our previously published partial-wave analysis (PWA) of a large data set of diffractive-dissociation events from the reaction $\pi^- + p \to \pi^-\pi^-\pi^+ + p_\text{recoil}$ with a 190 GeV/$c$ pion beam. The PWA results, which were obtained in 100 bins of three-pion mass, $0.5 < m_{3\pi} < 2.5$ GeV/$c^2$, and simultaneously in 11 bins of the reduced four-momentum transfer squared, $0.1 < t' < 1.0$ $($GeV$/c)^2$, are subjected to a resonance-model fit using Breit-Wigner amplitudes to simultaneously describe a subset of 14 selected waves using 11 isovector light-meson states with $J^{PC} = 0^{-+}$, $1^{++}$, $2^{++}$, $2^{-+}$, $4^{++}$, and spin-exotic $1^{-+}$ quantum numbers. The model contains the well-known resonances $\pi(1800)$, $a_1(1260)$, $a_2(1320)$, $\pi_2(1670)$, $\pi_2(1880)$, and $a_4(2040)$. In addition, it includes the disputed $\pi_1(1600)$, the excited states $a_1(1640)$, $a_2(1700)$, and $\pi_2(2005)$, as well as the resonancelike $a_1(1420)$. We measure the resonance parameters mass and width of these objects by combining the information from the PWA results obtained in the 11 $t'$ bins. We extract the relative branching fractions of the $\rho(770) \pi$ and $f_2(1270) \pi$ decays of $a_2(1320)$ and $a_4(2040)$, where the former one is measured for the first time. In a novel approach, we extract the $t'$ dependence of the intensity of the resonances and of their phases. The $t'$ dependence of the intensities of most resonances differs distinctly from the $t'$ dependence of the nonresonant components. For the first time, we determine the $t'$ dependence of the phases of the production amplitudes and confirm that the production mechanism of the Pomeron exchange is common to all resonances.
Real and imaginary parts of the normalized transition amplitudes $\mathcal{T}_a$ of the 14 selected partial waves in the 1100 $(m_{3\pi}, t')$ cells (see Eq. (12) in the paper). The wave index $a$ represents the quantum numbers that uniquely define the partial wave. The quantum numbers are given by the shorthand notation $J^{PC} M^\varepsilon [$isobar$] \pi L$. We use this notation to label the transition amplitudes in the column headers. The $m_{3\pi}$ values that are given in the first column correspond to the bin centers. Each of the 100 $m_{3\pi}$ bins is 20 MeV/$c^2$ wide. Since the 11 $t'$ bins are non-equidistant, the lower and upper bounds of each $t'$ bin are given in the column headers. The transition amplitudes define the spin-density matrix elements $\varrho_{ab}$ for waves $a$ and $b$ according to Eq. (18). The spin-density matrix enters the resonance-model fit via Eqs. (33) and (34). The transition amplitudes are normalized via Eqs. (9), (16), and (17) such that the partial-wave intensities $\varrho_{aa} = |\mathcal{T}_a|^2$ are given in units of acceptance-corrected number of events. The relative phase $\Delta\phi_{ab}$ between two waves $a$ and $b$ is given by $\arg(\varrho_{ab}) = \arg(\mathcal{T}_a) - \arg(\mathcal{T}_b)$. Note that only relative phases are well-defined. The phase of the $1^{++}0^+ \rho(770) \pi S$ wave was set to $0^\circ$ so that the corresponding transition amplitudes are real-valued. In the PWA model, some waves are excluded in the region of low $m_{3\pi}$ (see paper and [Phys. Rev. D 95, 032004 (2017)] for a detailed description of the PWA model). For these waves, the transition amplitudes are set to zero. The tables with the covariance matrices of the transition amplitudes for all 1100 $(m_{3\pi}, t')$ cells can be downloaded via the 'Additional Resources' for this table.
Decay phase-space volume $I_{aa}$ for the 14 selected partial waves as a function of $m_{3\pi}$, normalized such that $I_{aa}(m_{3\pi} = 2.5~\text{GeV}/c^2) = 1$. The wave index $a$ represents the quantum numbers that uniquely define the partial wave. The quantum numbers are given by the shorthand notation $J^{PC} M^\varepsilon [$isobar$] \pi L$. We use this notation to label the decay phase-space volume in the column headers. The labels are identical to the ones used in the column headers of the table of the transition amplitudes. $I_{aa}$ is calculated using Monte Carlo integration techniques for fixed $m_{3\pi}$ values, which are given in the first column, in the range from 0.5 to 2.5 GeV/$c^2$ in steps of 10 MeV/$c^2$. The statistical uncertainties given for $I_{aa}$ are due to the finite number of Monte Carlo events. $I_{aa}(m_{3\pi})$ is defined in Eq. (6) in the paper and appears in the resonance model in Eqs. (19) and (20).
We study the spin-exotic $J^{PC} = 1^{-+}$ amplitude in single-diffractive dissociation of 190 GeV$/c$ pions into $\pi^-\pi^-\pi^+$ using a hydrogen target and confirm the $\pi_1(1600) \to \rho(770) \pi$ amplitude, which interferes with a nonresonant $1^{-+}$ amplitude. We demonstrate that conflicting conclusions from previous studies on these amplitudes can be attributed to different analysis models and different treatment of the dependence of the amplitudes on the squared four-momentum transfer and we thus reconcile their experimental findings. We study the nonresonant contributions to the $\pi^-\pi^-\pi^+$ final state using pseudo-data generated on the basis of a Deck model. Subjecting pseudo-data and real data to the same partial-wave analysis, we find good agreement concerning the spectral shape and its dependence on the squared four-momentum transfer for the $J^{PC} = 1^{-+}$ amplitude and also for amplitudes with other $J^{PC}$ quantum numbers. We investigate for the first time the amplitude of the $\pi^-\pi^+$ subsystem with $J^{PC} = 1^{--}$ in the $3\pi$ amplitude with $J^{PC} = 1^{-+}$ employing the novel freed-isobar analysis scheme. We reveal this $\pi^-\pi^+$ amplitude to be dominated by the $\rho(770)$ for both the $\pi_1(1600)$ and the nonresonant contribution. We determine the $\rho(770)$ resonance parameters within the three-pion final state. These findings largely confirm the underlying assumptions for the isobar model used in all previous partial-wave analyses addressing the $J^{PC} = 1^{-+}$ amplitude.
Results for the spin-exotic $1^{-+}1^+[\pi\pi]_{1^{-\,-}}\pi P$ wave from the free-isobar partial-wave analysis performed in the first $t^\prime$ bin from $0.100$ to $0.141\;(\text{GeV}/c)^2$. The plotted values represent the intensity of the coherent sum of the dynamic isobar amplitudes $\{\mathcal{T}_k^\text{fit}\}$ as a function of $m_{3\pi}$, where the coherent sums run over all $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bins indexed by $k$. These intensity values are given in number of events per $40\;\text{MeV}/c^2$ $m_{3\pi}$ interval and correspond to the orange points in Fig. 8(a). In the "Resources" section of this $t^\prime$ bin, we provide the JSON file named <code>transition_amplitudes_tBin_0.json</code> for download, which contains for each $m_{3\pi}$ bin the values of the transition amplitudes $\{\mathcal{T}_k^\text{fit}\}$ for all $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bins, their covariances, and further information. The data in this JSON file are organized in independent bins of $m_{3\pi}$. The information in these bins can be accessed via the key <code>m3pi_bin_<#>_t_prime_bin_0</code>. Each independent $m_{3\pi}$ bin contains <ul> <li>the kinematic ranges of the $(m_{3\pi}, t^\prime)$ cell, which are accessible via the keys <code>m3pi_lower_limit</code>, <code>m3pi_upper_limit</code>, <code>t_prime_lower_limit</code>, and <code>t_prime_upper_limit</code>.</li> <li>the $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bin borders, which are accessible via the keys <code>m2pi_lower_limits</code> and <code>m2pi_upper_limits</code>.</li> <li>the real and imaginary parts of the transition amplitudes $\{\mathcal{T}_k^\text{fit}\}$ for all $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bins, which are accessible via the keys <code>transition_amplitudes_real_part</code> and <code>transition_amplitudes_imag_part</code>, respectively.</li> <li>the covariance matrix of the real and imaginary parts of the $\{\mathcal{T}_k^\text{fit}\}$ for all $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bins, which is accessible via the key <code>covariance_matrix</code>. Note that this matrix is real-valued and that its rows and columns are indexed such that $(\Re,\Im)$ pairs of the transition amplitudes are arranged with increasing $k$.</li> <li>the normalization factors $\mathcal{N}_a$ in Eq. (13) for all $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bins, which are accessible via the key <code>normalization_factors</code>.</li> <li>the shape of the zero mode, i.e., the values of $\tilde\Delta_k$ for all $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bins, which is accessible via the key <code>zero_mode_shape</code>.</li> <li>the reference wave, which is accessible via the key <code>reference_wave</code>. Note that this is always the $4^{++}1^+\rho(770)\pi G$ wave.</li> </ul>
Results for the spin-exotic $1^{-+}1^+[\pi\pi]_{1^{-\,-}}\pi P$ wave from the free-isobar partial-wave analysis performed in the second $t^\prime$ bin from $0.141$ to $0.194\;(\text{GeV}/c)^2$. The plotted values represent the intensity of the coherent sum of the dynamic isobar amplitudes $\{\mathcal{T}_k^\text{fit}\}$ as a function of $m_{3\pi}$, where the coherent sums run over all $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bins indexed by $k$. These intensity values are given in number of events per $40\;\text{MeV}/c^2$ $m_{3\pi}$ interval and correspond to the orange points in Fig. 15(a) in the supplemental material of the paper. In the "Resources" section of this $t^\prime$ bin, we provide the JSON file named <code>transition_amplitudes_tBin_1.json</code> for download, which contains for each $m_{3\pi}$ bin the values of the transition amplitudes $\{\mathcal{T}_k^\text{fit}\}$ for all $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bins, their covariances, and further information. The data in this JSON file are organized in independent bins of $m_{3\pi}$. The information in these bins can be accessed via the key <code>m3pi_bin_<#>_t_prime_bin_1</code>. Each independent $m_{3\pi}$ bin contains <ul> <li>the kinematic ranges of the $(m_{3\pi}, t^\prime)$ cell, which are accessible via the keys <code>m3pi_lower_limit</code>, <code>m3pi_upper_limit</code>, <code>t_prime_lower_limit</code>, and <code>t_prime_upper_limit</code>.</li> <li>the $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bin borders, which are accessible via the keys <code>m2pi_lower_limits</code> and <code>m2pi_upper_limits</code>.</li> <li>the real and imaginary parts of the transition amplitudes $\{\mathcal{T}_k^\text{fit}\}$ for all $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bins, which are accessible via the keys <code>transition_amplitudes_real_part</code> and <code>transition_amplitudes_imag_part</code>, respectively.</li> <li>the covariance matrix of the real and imaginary parts of the $\{\mathcal{T}_k^\text{fit}\}$ for all $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bins, which is accessible via the key <code>covariance_matrix</code>. Note that this matrix is real-valued and that its rows and columns are indexed such that $(\Re,\Im)$ pairs of the transition amplitudes are arranged with increasing $k$.</li> <li>the normalization factors $\mathcal{N}_a$ in Eq. (13) for all $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bins, which are accessible via the key <code>normalization_factors</code>.</li> <li>the shape of the zero mode, i.e., the values of $\tilde\Delta_k$ for all $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bins, which is accessible via the key <code>zero_mode_shape</code>.</li> <li>the reference wave, which is accessible via the key <code>reference_wave</code>. Note that this is always the $4^{++}1^+\rho(770)\pi G$ wave.</li> </ul>
Results for the spin-exotic $1^{-+}1^+[\pi\pi]_{1^{-\,-}}\pi P$ wave from the free-isobar partial-wave analysis performed in the third $t^\prime$ bin from $0.194$ to $0.326\;(\text{GeV}/c)^2$. The plotted values represent the intensity of the coherent sum of the dynamic isobar amplitudes $\{\mathcal{T}_k^\text{fit}\}$ as a function of $m_{3\pi}$, where the coherent sums run over all $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bins indexed by $k$. These intensity values are given in number of events per $40\;\text{MeV}/c^2$ $m_{3\pi}$ interval and correspond to the orange points in Fig. 15(b) in the supplemental material of the paper. In the "Resources" section of this $t^\prime$ bin, we provide the JSON file named <code>transition_amplitudes_tBin_2.json</code> for download, which contains for each $m_{3\pi}$ bin the values of the transition amplitudes $\{\mathcal{T}_k^\text{fit}\}$ for all $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bins, their covariances, and further information. The data in this JSON file are organized in independent bins of $m_{3\pi}$. The information in these bins can be accessed via the key <code>m3pi_bin_<#>_t_prime_bin_2</code>. Each independent $m_{3\pi}$ bin contains <ul> <li>the kinematic ranges of the $(m_{3\pi}, t^\prime)$ cell, which are accessible via the keys <code>m3pi_lower_limit</code>, <code>m3pi_upper_limit</code>, <code>t_prime_lower_limit</code>, and <code>t_prime_upper_limit</code>.</li> <li>the $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bin borders, which are accessible via the keys <code>m2pi_lower_limits</code> and <code>m2pi_upper_limits</code>.</li> <li>the real and imaginary parts of the transition amplitudes $\{\mathcal{T}_k^\text{fit}\}$ for all $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bins, which are accessible via the keys <code>transition_amplitudes_real_part</code> and <code>transition_amplitudes_imag_part</code>, respectively.</li> <li>the covariance matrix of the real and imaginary parts of the $\{\mathcal{T}_k^\text{fit}\}$ for all $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bins, which is accessible via the key <code>covariance_matrix</code>. Note that this matrix is real-valued and that its rows and columns are indexed such that $(\Re,\Im)$ pairs of the transition amplitudes are arranged with increasing $k$.</li> <li>the normalization factors $\mathcal{N}_a$ in Eq. (13) for all $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bins, which are accessible via the key <code>normalization_factors</code>.</li> <li>the shape of the zero mode, i.e., the values of $\tilde\Delta_k$ for all $m_{\pi^-\pi^+}$ bins, which is accessible via the key <code>zero_mode_shape</code>.</li> <li>the reference wave, which is accessible via the key <code>reference_wave</code>. Note that this is always the $4^{++}1^+\rho(770)\pi G$ wave.</li> </ul>
Azimuthal correlations of charged hadrons with direct-photon ($\gamma_{dir}$) and neutral-pion ($\pi^{0}$) trigger particles are analyzed in central Au+Au and minimum-bias $p+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}} = 200$ GeV in the STAR experiment. The charged-hadron per-trigger yields at mid-rapidity from central Au+Au collisions are compared with $p+p$ collisions to quantify the suppression in Au+Au collisions. The suppression of the away-side associated-particle yields per $\gamma_{dir}$ trigger is independent of the transverse momentum of the trigger particle ($p_{T}^{\mathrm{trig}}$), whereas the suppression is smaller at low transverse momentum of the associated charged hadrons ($p_{T}^{\mathrm{assoc}}$). Within uncertainty, similar levels of suppression are observed for $\gamma_{dir}$ and $\pi^{0}$ triggers as a function of $z_{T}$ ($\equiv p_T^{\mathrm{assoc}}/p_T^{\mathrm{trig}}$). The results are compared with energy-loss-inspired theoretical model predictions. Our studies support previous conclusions that the lost energy reappears predominantly at low transverse momentum, regardless of the trigger energy.
The Azimuthal correlation functions of charged hadrons per trigger
The Azimuthal correlation functions of charged hadrons per trigger
The Azimuthal correlation functions of charged hadrons per trigger
The NA61/SHINE experiment at the CERN SPS is performing a uniqe study of the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter by varying collision energy and nuclear mass number of colliding nuclei. In central Pb+Pb collisions the NA49 experiment found structures in the energy dependence of several observables in the CERN SPS energy range that had been predicted for the transition to a deconfined phase. New measurements of NA61/SHINE find intriguing similarities in p+p interactions for which no deconfinement transition is expected at SPS energies. Possible implications will be discussed.
K+/PI+ at y=0.
K+/PI+ at y=0.
<K+>/<PI+>.
Fluctuations of conserved quantities such as baryon number, charge, and strangeness are sensitive to the correlation length of the hot and dense matter created in relativistic heavy-ion collisions and can be used to search for the QCD critical point. We report the first measurements of the moments of net-kaon multiplicity distributions in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 7.7, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27, 39, 62.4, and 200 GeV. The collision centrality and energy dependence of the mean ($M$), variance ($\sigma^2$), skewness ($S$), and kurtosis ($\kappa$) for net-kaon multiplicity distributions as well as the ratio $\sigma^2/M$ and the products $S\sigma$ and $\kappa\sigma^2$ are presented. Comparisons are made with Poisson and negative binomial baseline calculations as well as with UrQMD, a transport model (UrQMD) that does not include effects from the QCD critical point. Within current uncertainties, the net-kaon cumulant ratios appear to be monotonic as a function of collision energy.
Raw $\Delta N_k$ distributions in Au+Au collisions at 7.7 GeV for 0–5%, 30–40%, and 70–80% collision centralities at midrapidity. The distributions are not corrected for the finite centrality bin width effect nor the reconstruction efficiency.
Raw $\Delta N_k$ distributions in Au+Au collisions at 11.5 GeV for 0–5%, 30–40%, and 70–80% collision centralities at midrapidity. The distributions are not corrected for the finite centrality bin width effect nor the reconstruction efficiency.
Raw $\Delta N_k$ distributions in Au+Au collisions at 14.5 GeV for 0–5%, 30–40%, and 70–80% collision centralities at midrapidity. The distributions are not corrected for the finite centrality bin width effect nor the reconstruction efficiency.
Forum