The measurement of primary $\pi^{\pm}$, K$^{\pm}$, p and $\overline{p}$ production at mid-rapidity ($|y| <$ 0.5) in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV performed with ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is reported. Particle identification is performed using the specific ionization energy loss and time-of-flight information, the ring-imaging Cherenkov technique and the kink-topology identification of weak decays of charged kaons. Transverse momentum spectra are measured from 0.1 up to 3 GeV/$c$ for pions, from 0.2 up to 6 GeV/$c$ for kaons and from 0.3 up to 6 GeV/$c$ for protons. The measured spectra and particle ratios are compared with QCD-inspired models, tuned to reproduce also the earlier measurements performed at the LHC. Furthermore, the integrated particle yields and ratios as well as the average transverse momenta are compared with results at lower collision energies.
Combined transverse momentum spectra of PI, K and P, sum of particles and antiparticles, measured at mid-rapidity in pp collisions at SQRT(S) = 7 TeV normalized to the number of inelastic collisions. Statistical and systematic uncertainties are reported. The uncertainty due to the normalization to inelastic collisions (+7-4 %) is not included.
Kaon/Pion ratio in pp collisions at SQRT(S) = 7 TeV.
Proton/Pion ratio in pp collisions at SQRT(S) = 7 TeV.
Electrons from heavy-flavour hadron decays (charm and beauty) were measured with the ALICE detector in Pb-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass of energy $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}=2.76$ TeV. The transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) differential production yields at mid-rapidity were used to calculate the nuclear modification factor $R_{\rm AA}$ in the interval $3<p_{\rm T}< 18$ GeV/$c$. The $R_{\rm AA}$ shows a strong suppression compared to binary scaling of pp collisions at the same energy (up to a factor of 4) in the 10% most central Pb-Pb collisions. There is a centrality trend of suppression, and a weaker suppression (down to a factor of 2) in semi-peripheral (50-80%) collisions is observed. The suppression of electrons in this broad $p_{\rm T}$ interval indicates that both charm and beauty quarks lose energy when they traverse the hot medium formed in Pb-Pb collisions at LHC.
Pb-Pb collision centrality 0-10%.
Pb-Pb collision centrality 10-20%.
Pb-Pb collision centrality 20-30%.
We report on the $W$ and $Z/\gamma^*$ differential and total cross sections as well as the $W^+$/$W^-$ and $(W^+ + W^-)$/$(Z/\gamma^*)$ cross-section ratios measured by the STAR experiment at RHIC in $p+p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 500$ GeV and $510$ GeV. The cross sections and their ratios are sensitive to quark and antiquark parton distribution functions. In particular, at leading order, the $W$ cross-section ratio is sensitive to the $\bar{d}/\bar{u}$ ratio. These measurements were taken at high $Q^2 \sim M_W^2,M_Z^2$ and can serve as input into global analyses to provide constraints on the sea quark distributions. The results presented here combine three STAR data sets from 2011, 2012, and 2013, accumulating an integrated luminosity of 350 pb$^{-1}$. We also assess the expected impact that our $W^+/W^-$ cross-section ratios will have on various quark distributions, and find sensitivity to the $\bar{u}-\bar{d}$ and $\bar{d}/\bar{u}$ distributions.
Differential cross sections, $d\sigma^{fid}_{W^+}/d\eta_{e^+}$, binned in $e^+$ pseudorapidity bins, requiring that $-1 < \eta_e < 1.5$ and $25$ GeV $< E^e_{T} < 50$ GeV. The values labeled 'stat.' and 'eff.' represent the statistical uncertainty and the systematic uncertainty estimated from the efficiencies, respectively. The later is dominated by the 5\% uncertainty in the tracking efficiency, which is common to all the measurements. The value 'sys.' includes all remaining systematic uncertainties, with the exception of the luminosity. The 9\% uncertainty associated with the luminosity measurement is labeled as 'lumi'.
Differential cross sections, $d\sigma^{fid}_{W^-}/d\eta_{e^-}$, binned in $e^-$ pseudorapidity bins, requiring that $-1 < \eta_e < 1.5$ and $25$ GeV $< E^e_{T} < 50$ GeV. The values labeled ``stat.' and ``eff.' represent the statistical uncertainty and the systematic uncertainty estimated from the efficiencies, respectively. The later is dominated by the 5\% uncertainty in the tracking efficiency, which is common to all the measurements. The value ``sys.' includes all remaining systematic uncertainties, with the exception of the luminosity. The 9\% uncertainty associated with the luminosity measurement is labeled as 'lumi'.
Differential cross sections, $d\sigma^{fid}_{Z}/dy_Z$, binned in rapidity bins, requiring that $|\eta_e|<1$, $|y_Z| < 1$, $p^e_T > 15$ GeV, and $ 70$ GeV $< M_Z < 110$ GeV. The values labeled 'stat.' and 'eff.' represent the statistical uncertainty and the systematic uncertainty estimated from the efficiencies, respectively. The later is dominated by the 10\% uncertainty in the tracking efficiency, which is common to all the measurements. The value 'sys.' includes all remaining systematic uncertainties, with the exception of the luminosity. The 9\% uncertainty associated with the luminosity measurement is labeled as 'lumi'.
The $\Lambda$ ($\bar{\Lambda}$) hyperon polarization along the beam direction has been measured for the first time in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$ = 200 GeV. The polarization dependence on the hyperons' emission angle relative to the second-order event plane exhibits a sine modulation, indicating a quadrupole pattern of the vorticity component along the beam direction. The polarization is found to increase in more peripheral collisions, and shows no strong transverse momentum ($p_T$) dependence at $p_T>1$ GeV/$c$. The magnitude of the signal is about five times smaller than those predicted by hydrodynamic and multiphase transport models; the observed phase of the emission angle dependence is also opposite to these model predictions. In contrast, blast-wave model calculations reproduce the modulation phase measured in the data and capture the centrality and transverse momentum dependence of the signal once the model is required to reproduce the azimuthal dependence of the Gaussian source radii measured via the Hanbury-Brown and Twiss intensity interferometry technique.
$\langle \cos\theta_p* \rangle$ of $\Lambda$ and $\bar{\Lambda}$ hyperons as a function of azimuthal angle $\phi$ relative to the second-order event plane $\Psi_2$ for 20%–60% centrality bin in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV.
The second Fourier sine coefficient $\langle P_Z \sin(2\phi-2\Psi_2) \rangle$ of the polarization of $\Lambda$ and $\bar{\Lambda}$ along the beam direction as a function of the collision centrality in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV.
The second Fourier sine coefficient $\langle P_Z \sin(2\phi-2\Psi_2) \rangle$ of the polarization of $\Lambda$ and $\bar{\Lambda}$ along the beam direction as a function of the collision centrality in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV. Results updated with $\alpha_{\Lambda} = -\alpha_{\bar{\Lambda}} = 0.732$.
Differential cross sections of charged particles in inelastic pp collisions as a function of $p_{\rm T}$ have been measured at $\sqrt{s}=$ 0.9, 2.76 and 7 TeV at the LHC. The $p_{\rm T}$ spectra are compared to NLO-pQCD calculations. Though the differential cross section for an individual $\sqrt{s}$ cannot be described by NLO-pQCD, the relative increase of cross section with $\sqrt{s}$ is in agreement with NLO-pQCD. Based on these measurements and observations, procedures are discussed to construct pp reference spectra at $\sqrt{s} =$ 2.76 and 5.02 TeV up to $p_{\rm T}$ = 50 GeV/$c$ as required for the calculation of the nuclear modification factor in nucleus-nucleus and proton-nucleus collisions.
The normalized differential primary charged particle cross sections measured at 0.9, 2.76 and 7 TeV centre-of- mass energies. Additional systematic error for 0.9 TeV data: +5.1% -4.0%. Additional systematic error for 2.76 TeV data: +1.9% -1.9%. Additional systematic error for 7.0 TeV data: +3.6% -3.6%.
The ratios of differential cross sections of charged particles at different collisions energies.
The constructed reference P-P spectra for comparison with PB-PB and p-PB spectra.
The production of the charm-strange baryon $\Xi_{\rm c}^0$ is measured for the first time at the LHC via its semileptonic decay into e$^+\Xi^-\nu_{\rm e}$ in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV with the ALICE detector. The transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T}$) differential cross section multiplied by the branching ratio is presented in the interval 1 $<$ $p_{\rm T}$ $<$ 8 GeV/$c$ at mid-rapidity, $|y|$ $<$ 0.5. The transverse momentum dependence of the $\Xi_{\rm c}^0$ baryon production relative to the D$^0$ meson production is compared to predictions of event generators with various tunes of the hadronisation mechanism, which are found to underestimate the measured cross-section ratio.
Inclusive $\Xi_{\rm c}^{0}$ $p_{\rm T}$ differential cross section multiplied by the branching ratio into the semileptonic decay for $|y|<0.5$.
Ratio of the $p_{\rm T}$ differential cross sections of $\Xi_{\rm c}^{0}$ baryons (multiplied by the branching ratio into the semileptonic decay) and D$^{0}$ mesons for $|y|<0.5$.
The Transition Radiation Detector (TRD) was designed and built to enhance the capabilities of the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). While aimed at providing electron identification and triggering, the TRD also contributes significantly to the track reconstruction and calibration in the central barrel of ALICE. In this paper the design, construction, operation, and performance of this detector are discussed. A pion rejection factor of up to 410 is achieved at a momentum of 1 GeV/$c$ in p-Pb collisions and the resolution at high transverse momentum improves by about 40% when including the TRD information in track reconstruction. The triggering capability is demonstrated both for jet, light nuclei, and electron selection.
Most probable charge deposit signal normalised to that of minimum ionising particles as a function of $\beta\gamma$ for $\pi$, $\it{e}$ test beam (dE/dx). Statistical uncertainties as vertical error bars.
Most probable charge deposit signal normalised to that of minimum ionising particles as a function of $\beta\gamma$ for $\pi$, $\it{e}$ test beam (dE/dx + TR). Statistical uncertainties as vertical error bars.
Most probable charge deposit signal normalised to that of minimum ionising particles as a function of $\beta\gamma$ for $\pi$, $\it{e}$ and proton in pp collisions ($\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV). Statistical uncertainties as vertical error bars. Uncertainties in momentum and thus $\beta \gamma$ determination are drawn as horizontal error bars.
This Letter presents the most precise measurement to date of the matter/antimatter imbalance at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 5.02$ TeV. Using the Statistical Hadronization framework, it is possible to obtain the value of the electric charge and baryon chemical potentials, $\mu_Q=-0.18\pm0.90$ MeV and $\mu_B=0.71\pm0.45$ MeV, with unprecedented precision. A centrality-differential study of the antiparticle-to-particle yield ratios of charged pions, protons, $\Omega$-baryons, and light (hyper)nuclei is performed. These results indicate that the system created in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC is on average baryon-free and electrically neutral at midrapidity.
Antiparticle-to-particle yield ratio, 0-5% centrality
Antiparticle-to-particle yield ratio, 5-10% centrality
Antiparticle-to-particle yield ratio, 10-30% centrality
The elliptic, triangular, quadrangular and pentagonal anisotropic flow coefficients for $\pi^{\pm}$, $\mathrm{K}^{\pm}$ and p+$\overline{\mathrm{p}}$ in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_\mathrm{{NN}}} = 2.76$ TeV were measured with the ALICE detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The results were obtained with the Scalar Product method, correlating the identified hadrons with reference particles from a different pseudorapidity region. Effects not related to the common event symmetry planes (non-flow) were estimated using correlations in pp collisions and were subtracted from the measurement. The obtained flow coefficients exhibit a clear mass ordering for transverse momentum ($p_{\mathrm{T}}$) values below $\approx$ 3 GeV/$c$. In the intermediate $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ region ($3 < p_{\mathrm{T}} < 6$ GeV/$c$), particles group at an approximate level according to the number of constituent quarks, suggesting that coalescence might be the relevant particle production mechanism in this region. The results for $p_{\mathrm{T}} < 3$ GeV/$c$ are described fairly well by a hydrodynamical model (iEBE-VISHNU) that uses initial conditions generated by A Multi-Phase Transport model (AMPT) and describes the expansion of the fireball using a value of 0.08 for the ratio of shear viscosity to entropy density ($\eta/s$), coupled to a hadronic cascade model (UrQMD). Finally, expectations from AMPT alone fail to quantitatively describe the measurements for all harmonics throughout the measured transverse momentum region. However, the comparison to the AMPT model highlights the importance of the late hadronic rescattering stage to the development of the observed mass ordering at low values of $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ and of coalescence as a particle production mechanism for the particle type grouping at intermediate values of $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ for all harmonics.
pion <uQ>2 as a function of pT in pp collision.
kaon <uQ>2 as a function of pT in pp collision.
proton <uQ>2 as a function of pT in pp collision.
Mid-rapidity production of $\pi^{\pm}$, $\rm{K}^{\pm}$ and ($\bar{\rm{p}}$)p measured by the ALICE experiment at the LHC, in Pb-Pb and inelastic pp collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$ = 5.02 TeV, is presented. The invariant yields are measured over a wide transverse momentum ($p_{\rm{T}}$) range from hundreds of MeV/$c$ up to 20 GeV/$c$. The results in Pb-Pb collisions are presented as a function of the collision centrality, in the range 0$-$90%. The comparison of the $p_{\rm{T}}$-integrated particle ratios, i.e. proton-to-pion (p/$\pi$) and kaon-to-pion (K/$\pi$) ratios, with similar measurements in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$ = 2.76 TeV show no significant energy dependence. Blast-wave fits of the $p_{\rm{T}}$ spectra indicate that in the most central collisions radial flow is slightly larger at 5.02 TeV with respect to 2.76 TeV. Particle ratios (p/$\pi$, K/$\pi$) as a function of $p_{\rm{T}}$ show pronounced maxima at $p_{\rm{T}}$ $\approx$ 3 GeV/$c$ in central Pb-Pb collisions. At high $p_{\rm{T}}$, particle ratios at 5.02 TeV are similar to those measured in pp collisions at the same energy and in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$ = 2.76 TeV. Using the pp reference spectra measured at the same collision energy of 5.02 TeV, the nuclear modification factors for the different particle species are derived. Within uncertainties, the nuclear modification factor is particle species independent for high $p_{\rm{T}}$ and compatible with measurements at $\sqrt{s_{\rm{NN}}}$ = 2.76 TeV. The results are compared to state-of-the-art model calculations, which are found to describe the observed trends satisfactorily.
$p_{T}$-distributions of pions ($\pi^{+}+\pi^{-}$) measured in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV.
$p_{T}$-distributions of pions ($\pi^{+}+\pi^{-}$) measured in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 TeV.
$p_{T}$-distributions of kaons ($K^{+}+K^{-}$) measured in Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV.
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