First measurements of balance functions (BFs) of all combinations of identified charged hadron $(\pi,\rm K,\rm p)$ pairs in Pb$-$Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV recorded by the ALICE detector are presented. The BF measurements are carried out as two-dimensional differential correlators versus the relative rapidity ($\Delta y$) and azimuthal angle ($\Delta\varphi$) of hadron pairs, and studied as a function of collision centrality. The $\Delta\varphi$ dependence of BFs is expected to be sensitive to the light quark diffusivity in the quark$-$gluon plasma. While the BF azimuthal widths of all pairs substantially decrease from peripheral to central collisions, the longitudinal widths exhibit mixed behaviors: BFs of $\pi\pi$ and cross-species pairs narrow significantly in more central collisions, whereas those of $\rm KK$ and $\rm pp$ are found to be independent of collision centrality. This dichotomy is qualitatively consistent with the presence of strong radial flow effects and the existence of two stages of quark production in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Finally, the first measurements of the collision centrality evolution of BF integrals are presented, with the observation that charge balancing fractions are nearly independent of collision centrality in Pb$-$Pb collisions. Overall, the results presented provide new and challenging constraints for theoretical models of hadron production and transport in relativistic heavy-ion collisions.
Balance function $B^{\pi\pi}$ measured in semicentral Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76\;\text{TeV}$ ($\pi,{\rm K}: 0.2 \leq p_{\rm T} \leq 2.0\;{\rm GeV}/c$; ${\rm p}: 0.5 \leq p_{\rm T} \leq 2.5\;{\rm GeV}/c$).
Balance function $B^{{\rm KK}}$ measured in semicentral Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76\;\text{TeV}$ ($\pi,{\rm K}: 0.2 \leq p_{\rm T} \leq 2.0\;{\rm GeV}/c$; ${\rm p}: 0.5 \leq p_{\rm T} \leq 2.5\;{\rm GeV}/c$).
Balance function $B^{{\rm p\bar{p}}}$ measured in semicentral Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76\;\text{TeV}$ ($\pi,{\rm K}: 0.2 \leq p_{\rm T} \leq 2.0\;{\rm GeV}/c$; ${\rm p}: 0.5 \leq p_{\rm T} \leq 2.5\;{\rm GeV}/c$).
This paper presents the first measurements of the charge independent (CI) and charge dependent (CD) two-particle transverse momentum correlators $G_{2}^{\rm CI}$ and $G_{2}^{\rm CD}$ in Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\text{NN}}} = 2.76\;\text{\TeVe}$ by the ALICE collaboration. The two-particle transverse momentum correlator $G_{2}$ was introduced as a measure of the momentum current transfer between neighbouring system cells. The correlators are measured as a function of pair separation in pseudorapidity ($\Delta \eta$) and azimuth ($\Delta \varphi$) and as a function of collision centrality. From peripheral to central collisions, the correlator $G_{2}^{\rm CI}$ exhibits a longitudinal broadening while undergoing a monotonic azimuthal narrowing. By contrast, $G_{2}^{\rm CD}$ exhibits a narrowing along both dimensions. These features are not reproduced by models such as HIJING and AMPT. However, the observed narrowing of the correlators from peripheral to central collisions is expected to result from the stronger transverse flow profiles produced in more central collisions and the longitudinal broadening is predicted to be sensitive to momentum currents and the shear viscosity per unit of entropy density $\eta/s$ of the matter produced in the collisions. The observed broadening is found to be consistent with the hypothesized lower bound of $\eta/s$ and is in qualitative agreement with values obtained from anisotropic flow measurements.
Two-particle transverse momentum correlation $G_{2}^{\rm CI}$ for central (0-5%) Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76\;\text{TeV}$.
Two-particle transverse momentum correlation $G_{2}^{\rm CI}$ for semi-central (30-40%) Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76\;\text{TeV}$.
Two-particle transverse momentum correlation $G_{2}^{\rm CI}$ for perippheral (70-80%) Pb--Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76\;\text{TeV}$.
We report the first results of elliptic ($v_2$), triangular ($v_3$) and quadrangular flow ($v_4$) of charged particles in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=5.02$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The measurements are performed in the central pseudorapidity region $|\eta|<0.8$ and for the transverse momentum range $0.2<p_{\rm T}<5$ GeV/$c$. The anisotropic flow is measured using two-particle correlations with a pseudorapidity gap greater than one unit and with the multi-particle cumulant method. Compared to results from Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76$ TeV, the anisotropic flow coefficients $v_{2}$, $v_{3}$ and $v_{4}$ are found to increase by ($3.0\pm0.6$)%, ($4.3\pm1.4$)% and ($10.2\pm3.8$)%, respectively, in the centrality range 0-50%. This increase can be attributed mostly to an increase of the average transverse momentum between the two energies. The measurements are found to be compatible with hydrodynamic model calculations. This comparison provides a unique opportunity to test the validity of the hydrodynamic picture and the power to further discriminate between various possibilities for the temperature dependence of shear viscosity to entropy density ratio of the produced matter in heavy-ion collisions at the highest energies.
Centrality dependence of $v_2$, with two- and multi-particle correlations, integrated over the $p_{\rm T}$ range 0.2 < $p_{\rm T}$ < 5.0 GeV/$c$, at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV.
Centrality dependence of $v_2$, with two- and multi-particle correlations, integrated over the $p_{\rm T}$ range 0.2 < $p_{\rm T}$ < 5.0 GeV/$c$, at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV.
Centrality dependence of $v_3$ and $v_4$, with two-particle correlations, integrated over the $p_{\rm T}$ range 0.2 < $p_{\rm T}$ < 5.0 GeV/c, at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV.
ATLAS measurements of the azimuthal anisotropy in lead-lead collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=2.76$ TeV are shown using a dataset of approximately 7 $\mu$b$^{-1}$ collected at the LHC in 2010. The measurements are performed for charged particles with transverse momenta $0.5<p_T<20$ GeV and in the pseudorapidity range $|\eta|<2.5$. The anisotropy is characterized by the Fourier coefficients, $v_n$, of the charged-particle azimuthal angle distribution for n = 2-4. The Fourier coefficients are evaluated using multi-particle cumulants calculated with the generating function method. Results on the transverse momentum, pseudorapidity and centrality dependence of the $v_n$ coefficients are presented. The elliptic flow, $v_2$, is obtained from the two-, four-, six- and eight-particle cumulants while higher-order coefficients, $v_3$ and $v_4$, are determined with two- and four-particle cumulants. Flow harmonics $v_n$ measured with four-particle cumulants are significantly reduced compared to the measurement involving two-particle cumulants. A comparison to $v_n$ measurements obtained using different analysis methods and previously reported by the LHC experiments is also shown. Results of measurements of flow fluctuations evaluated with multi-particle cumulants are shown as a function of transverse momentum and the collision centrality. Models of the initial spatial geometry and its fluctuations fail to describe the flow fluctuations measurements.
The second flow harmonic measured with the two-particle cumulants as a function of transverse momentum in centrality bin 0-2%.
The second flow harmonic measured with the two-particle cumulants as a function of transverse momentum in centrality bin 2-5%.
The second flow harmonic measured with the two-particle cumulants as a function of transverse momentum in centrality bin 5-10%.
We present measurements of the azimuthal dependence of charged jet production in central and semi-central $\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}}$ = 2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collisions with respect to the second harmonic event plane, quantified as $v_{2}^{\mathrm{ch~jet}}$. Jet finding is performed employing the anti-$k_{\mathrm{T}}$ algorithm with a resolution parameter $R$ = 0.2 using charged tracks from the ALICE tracking system. The contribution of the azimuthal anisotropy of the underlying event is taken into account event-by-event. The remaining (statistical) region-to-region fluctuations are removed on an ensemble basis by unfolding the jet spectra for different event plane orientations independently. Significant non-zero $v_{2}^{\mathrm{ch~jet}}$ is observed in semi-central collisions (30-50\% centrality) for 20 $<$ $p_{\mathrm{T}}^{\rm ch~jet}$ $<$ 90 ${\mathrm{GeV}\kern-0.05em/\kern-0.02em c}$. The azimuthal dependence of the charged jet production is similar to the dependence observed for jets comprising both charged and neutral fragments, and compatible with measurements of the $v_2$ of single charged particles at high $p_{\mathrm{T}}$. Good agreement between the data and predictions from JEWEL, an event generator simulating parton shower evolution in the presence of a dense QCD medium, is found in semi-central collisions.
Second-order harmonic coefficient $v_2^{ch~jet}$ as function a of $p_{T}^{ch~jet}$ for 0--5% collision centrality.
Second-order harmonic coefficient $v_2^{ch~jet}$ as function a of $p_{T}^{ch~jet}$ for 30--50% collision centrality.
The integrated elliptic flow of charged particles produced in Pb+Pb collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=2.76 TeV has been measured with the ATLAS detector using data collected at the Large Hadron Collider. The anisotropy parameter, v_2, was measured in the pseudorapidity range |eta| <= 2.5 with the event-plane method. In order to include tracks with very low transverse momentum pT, thus reducing the uncertainty in v_2 integrated over pT, a 1 mu b-1 data sample without a magnetic field in the tracking detectors is used. The centrality dependence of the integrated v_2 is compared to other measurements obtained with higher pT thresholds. A weak pseudorapidity dependence of the integrated elliptic flow is observed for central collisions, and a small decrease when moving away from mid-rapidity is observed only in peripheral collisions. The integrated v2 transformed to the rest frame of one of the colliding nuclei is compared to the lower-energy RHIC data.
Monte Carlo evaluation of the tracklet reconstruction efficiency as a function of pseudorapidity for the 0-10% centraliry interval.
Monte Carlo evaluation of the tracklet reconstruction efficiency as a function of pseudorapidity for the 40-50% centraliry interval.
Monte Carlo evaluation of the tracklet reconstruction efficiency as a function of pseudorapidity for the 70-80% centraliry interval.
The production of the prompt charmed mesons $D^0$, $D^+$ and $D^{*+}$ relative to the reaction plane was measured in Pb-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon-nucleon collision of $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. D mesons were reconstructed via their hadronic decays at central rapidity in the transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) interval of 2-16 GeV/$c$. The azimuthal anisotropy is quantified in terms of the second coefficient $v_2$ in a Fourier expansion of the D meson azimuthal distribution, and in terms of the nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm AA}$, measured in the direction of the reaction plane and orthogonal to it. The $v_2$ coefficient was measured with three different methods and in three centrality classes in the interval 0-50%. A positive $v_2$ is observed in mid-central collisions (30-50% centrality class), with an mean value of $0.204_{-0.036}^{+0.099}$ (tot.unc.) in the interval $2 < p_{\rm T} < 6$ GeV/$c$, which decreases towards more central collisions (10-30% and 0-10% classes). The positive $v_2$ is also reflected in the nuclear modification factor, which shows a stronger suppression in the direction orthogonal to the reaction plane for mid-central collisions. The measurements are compared to theoretical calculations of charm quark transport and energy loss in high-density strongly-interacting matter at high temperature. The models that include substantial elastic interactions with an expanding medium provide a good description of the observed anisotropy. However, they are challenged to simultaneously describe the strong suppression of high-$p_{\rm T}$ yield of D mesons in central collisions and their azimuthal anisotropy in non-central collisions.
Prompt D^0 meson v2 as a function of pT for centrality 0-10%. The first systematic uncertainty is from the data and the second from the B feed-down.
Prompt D^0 meson v2 as a function of pT for centrality 10-30%. The first systematic uncertainty is from the data and the second from the B feed-down.
Prompt D^0 meson v2 as a function of pT for centrality 30-50%. The first systematic uncertainty is from the data and the second from the B feed-down.
The distributions of event-by-event harmonic flow coefficients v_n for n=2-4 are measured in sqrt(s_NN)=2.76 TeV Pb+Pb collisions using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The measurements are performed using charged particles with transverse momentum pT> 0.5 GeV and in the pseudorapidity range |eta|<2.5 in a dataset of approximately 7 ub^-1 recorded in 2010. The shapes of the v_n distributions are described by a two-dimensional Gaussian function for the underlying flow vector in central collisions for v_2 and over most of the measured centrality range for v_3 and v_4. Significant deviations from this function are observed for v_2 in mid-central and peripheral collisions, and a small deviation is observed for v_3 in mid-central collisions. It is shown that the commonly used multi-particle cumulants are insensitive to the deviations for v_2. The v_n distributions are also measured independently for charged particles with 0.5<pT<1 GeV and pT>1 GeV. When these distributions are rescaled to the same mean values, the adjusted shapes are found to be nearly the same for these two pT ranges. The v_n distributions are compared with the eccentricity distributions from two models for the initial collision geometry: a Glauber model and a model that includes corrections to the initial geometry due to gluon saturation effects. Both models fail to describe the experimental data consistently over most of the measured centrality range.
The relationship between centrality intervals and MEAN(Npart) estimated from the Glauber model.
The MEAN(Npart) dependence of MEAN(V2) for three pT ranges together with the total systematic uncertainties.
The MEAN(Npart) dependence of SIGMA(V2) for three pT ranges together with the total systematic uncertainties.
We report the first measurement of charged particle elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions at 2.76 TeV with the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The measurement is performed in the central pseudorapidity region (|$\eta$|<0.8) and transverse momentum range 0.2< $p_{\rm T}$< 5.0 GeV/$c$. The elliptic flow signal v$_2$, measured using the 4-particle correlation method, averaged over transverse momentum and pseudorapidity is 0.087 $\pm$ 0.002 (stat) $\pm$ 0.004 (syst) in the 40-50% centrality class. The differential elliptic flow v$_2(p_{\rm T})$ reaches a maximum of 0.2 near $p_{\rm T}$ = 3 GeV/$c$. Compared to RHIC Au-Au collisions at 200 GeV, the elliptic flow increases by about 30%. Some hydrodynamic model predictions which include viscous corrections are in agreement with the observed increase.
Transverse momentum dependence of v2 for centrality 40-50% from the 2- and 4-particle cumulant methods.
Transverse momentum dependence of v2{4} for centralities 10-20%, 20-30% and 30-40%.
Centrality dependence of elliptic flow, integrated over the pT range 0.2 < pT < 5.0 GeV, estimated with two- and multi-particle correlation techniques.
Azimuthally anisotropic distributions of D$^0$, D$^+$ and D$^{*+}$ mesons were studied in the central rapidity region ($|y|<0.8$) in Pb-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV per nucleon-nucleon collision, with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The second Fourier coefficient $v_2$ (commonly denoted elliptic flow) was measured in the centrality class 30-50% as a function of the D meson transverse momentum $p_{\rm T}$, in the range 2-16 GeV/$c$. The measured $v_2$ of D mesons is comparable in magnitude to that of light-flavour hadrons. It is positive in the range $2 < p_{\rm T} < 6$ GeV/$c$ with $5.7\sigma$ significance, based on the combination of statistical and systematic uncertainties.
v2 vs. pt for D0. The first systematic (sys) error is that from the data analysis and the second is from the B feed-down subtraction, as explained in the paper.
v2 vs. pt for D+. The first systematic (sys) error is that from the data analysis and the second is from the B feed-down subtraction, as explained in the paper.
v2 vs. pt for D*+. The first systematic (sys) error is that from the data analysis and the second is from the B feed-down subtraction, as explained in the paper.
Forum