The extreme temperatures and energy densities generated by ultra-relativistic collisions between heavy nuclei produce a state of matter with surprising fluid properties. Non-central collisions have angular momentum on the order of 1000$\hbar$, and the resulting fluid may have a strong vortical structure that must be understood to properly describe the fluid. It is also of particular interest because the restoration of fundamental symmetries of quantum chromodynamics is expected to produce novel physical effects in the presence of strong vorticity. However, no experimental indications of fluid vorticity in heavy ion collisions have so far been found. Here we present the first measurement of an alignment between the angular momentum of a non-central collision and the spin of emitted particles, revealing that the fluid produced in heavy ion collisions is by far the most vortical system ever observed. We find that $\Lambda$ and $\overline{\Lambda}$ hyperons show a positive polarization of the order of a few percent, consistent with some hydrodynamic predictions. A previous measurement that reported a null result at higher collision energies is seen to be consistent with the trend of our new observations, though with larger statistical uncertainties. These data provide the first experimental access to the vortical structure of the "perfect fluid" created in a heavy ion collision. They should prove valuable in the development of hydrodynamic models that quantitatively connect observations to the theory of the Strong Force. Our results extend the recent discovery of hydrodynamic spin alignment to the subatomic realm.
Lambda and AntiLambda polarization as a function of collision energy. A 0.8% error on the alpha value used in the paper is corrected in this table. Systematic error bars include those associated with particle identification (negligible), uncertainty in the value of the hyperon decay parameter (2%) and reaction plane resolution (2%) and detector efficiency corrections (4%). The dominant systematic error comes from statistical fluctuations of the estimated combinatoric background under the (anti-)$\Lambda$ mass peak.
Lambda and AntiLambda polarization as a function of collision energy calculated using the new $\alpha_\Lambda=0.732$ updated on PDG2020. Systematic error bars include those associated with particle identification (negligible), uncertainty in the value of the hyperon decay parameter (2%) and reaction plane resolution (2%) and detector efficiency corrections (4%). The dominant systematic error comes from statistical fluctuations of the estimated combinatoric background under the (anti-)$\Lambda$ mass peak.
We present results on the inclusive polarization of Λ hyperons produced in K + p interactions at 32 and 70 GeV/ c . A large positive Λ polarization is observed in the kaon fragmentation region. The polarization is energy independent, increases strongly with increasing x , but shows essentially no p T -dependence.
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The results on measuring polarization in charge exchange reaction π−+p→π0+n at 40 GeV/c are presented for the 4-momentum transfer range from 0 up to 2 (GeV/c)2. At |t|≦0.4 (GeV/c)2 the polarization has a positive sign. In the “crossover” region of π± elastic scattering a possible minimum in the polarization behaviour has been seen for the first time. the polarization is zero within the statistical accuracy near this point. In the “deep” region of the charge-exchange differential cross-section the polarization has a negative sign. The presented data are not in agreement with the modern theoretical models.
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The spin rotation parameter R has been measured for elastic π − p scattering at 40 GeV/ c , at four momentum transfers t ranging from −0.19 to −0.52 (GeV/ c ) 2 . The average value within this interval is R π − p = -0.200± 0.023. The resulting constraints on the πN scattering amplitudes are discussed. The experiments also yields an average value for K − p scattering, R K − p scattering, R K − p = -0.16±0.16.
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We report final results on the polarization parameter P in elastic scattering of π − , K − and antiprotons at 40 GeV/ c incident momentum. The energy dependence of P (t) in π − p above 10 GeV/ c is well fitted by P (t) α s αR(t)-α P (t) where α R (t) are the effective Regge and Pomeron trajectories respectively. The data in K − p are compatible with exchange degeneracy. The results inp¯p show an important structure for |t|> 0.3 (GeV/c) 2 demonstrating the existence of a large helicity flip amplitude.
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The polarization parameter in the reactions π−p→ηn and π−p→η′n at 40 GeV/c with −t ranging from 0 to 2.6 (GeV/c)2 and 1.0 (GeV/c)2, respectively, was measured in experiments using a propanediol polarized target. Only gamma particles from the neutral meson decay were detected. The polarization parameter of the first reaction turns out to be negative in a widet interval (0.05<−t<1.6 (GeV/c)2) and probably changes its sign at larger values oft. The average value of the polarization parameter of the second reaction is equal to −17±8)% in the region 0.05<−t<0.5 (GeV/c)2.
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The paper presents results on measuring the polarization in the reaction π − p→ π 0 n at 40 GeV/ c in the 4-momentum transfer range 0<| t |⩽2 (GeV/ c ) 2 . The results based on the statistics of about 2.2 million recorded events made it possible to observe a noticeable value and complex structure in the polarization behaviour up to | t |⩽2 (GeV/ c ) 2 .
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We present experimental results on measuring a single spin asymmetry in η-meson production in the interaction of transversely polarized protons and antiprotons at p lab = 200 GeV / c with a proton target in the region 0.2 < x F < 0.7 for p ↑ p , 0.3 < x F < 0.7 for p ̄ ↑p and 0.7 < p T < 2.0 GeV / c . A comparison of single spin asymmetries in π- and η-meson production is made.
The true asymmetry for ETA production in proton-proton collisions.
The true asymmetry for ETA production in antiproton-proton collisions.
We have measured the polarizations of J/ψ and ψ(2S) mesons as functions of their transverse momentum pT when they are produced promptly in the rapidity range |y|<0.6 with pT≥5 GeV/c. The analysis is performed using a data sample with an integrated luminosity of about 800 pb−1 collected by the CDF II detector. For both vector mesons, we find that the polarizations become increasingly longitudinal as pT increases from 5 to 30 GeV/c. These results are compared to the predictions of nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics and other contemporary models. The effective polarizations of J/ψ and ψ(2S) mesons from B-hadron decays are also reported.
Polarization parameter ALPHA for J/PSI production.
Polarization parameter ALPHA for PSI(2S) production.
We present the first measurements of the double spin asymmetries A_NN and A_SS at sqrt{s}=200 GeV, obtained by the pp2pp experiment using polarized proton beams at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The data were collected in the four momentum transfer t range 0.01<|t|<0.03 (GeV/c)^2. The measured asymmetries, which are consistent with zero, allow us to estimate upper limits on the double helicity-flip amplitudes phi_2 and phi_4 at small t as well as on the difference Delta(sigma_T) between the total cross sections for transversely polarized protons with antiparallel or parallel spin orientations.
Double spin asymmetries.
Double spin asymmetries.
T dependence of the double spin asymmetry ASS3 with statistical errors only.
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