We report on the first measurement of elliptic flow $v_2(p_T)$ of multi-strange baryons $\Xi+\bar{Xi}$ and $\Omega+\bar{Omega} in heavy-ion collisions. In minimum bias Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV, a significant amount of elliptic flow, comparable to other non-strange baryons, is observed for multi-strange baryons which are expected to be particularly sensitive to the dynamics of the partonic stage of heavy-ion collisions. The $p_T$ dependence of $v_2$ of the multi-strange baryons confirms the number of constituent quark scaling previously observed for lighter hadrons. These results support the idea that a substantial fraction of the observed collective motion is developed at the early partonic stage in ultra-relativistic nuclear collisions at RHIC.
$\Xi^{-} + \Xi^{+}$ invariant mass distribution from minimum bias (0–80%) Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
$\Omega^{-} + \Omega^{+}$ invariant mass distribution from minimum bias (0–80%) Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
Azimuthal distributions with respect to the event plane of the $\Xi^{-} + \Xi^{+}$ and $\Omega^{-} + \Omega^{+}$ raw yields.
We present the first measurement of multiplicity and pseudorapidity distributions of photons in the pseudorapidity region 2.3 $\le$ $\eta$ $\le$ 3.7 for different centralities in Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 62.4 GeV. We find that the photon yield in this pseudorapidity range scales with the number of participating nucleons at all collision centralities studied. The pseudorapidity distribution of photons, dominated by neutral pion decays, has been compared to those of identified charged pions, photons, and inclusive charged particles from heavy ion and nucleon-nucleon collisions at various energies. The photon production in the measured pseudorapidity region has been shown to be consistent with the energy and centrality independent limiting fragmentation scenario.
${dN_{\gamma}}\over{d\eta}$ for various event centrality classes compared to HIJING and AMPT model calculations.
(Color Online) Estimated ${dN_{\pi^{0}}}\over{dy}$ from ${dN_{\gamma}}\over{dy}$ normalized to $N_{part}$, as compared to ${dN_{\pi^{\pm}}}\over{dy}$ normalized to $N_{part}$, as a function of $y-y_{beam}$ for central collisions at various collision energies.
We present first measurements of the $\phi$-meson elliptic flow ($v_{2}(p_{T})$) and high statistics $p_{T}$ distributions for different centralities from $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV Au+Au collisions at RHIC. In minimum bias collisions the $v_{2}$ of the $\phi$ meson is consistent with the trend observed for mesons. The ratio of the yields of the $\Omega$ to those of the $\phi$ as a function of transverse momentum is consistent with a model based on the recombination of thermal $s$ quarks up to $p_{T}\sim 4$ GeV/$c$, but disagrees at higher momenta. The nuclear modification factor ($R_{CP}$) of $\phi$ follows the trend observed in the $K^{0}_{S}$ mesons rather than in $\Lambda$ baryons, supporting baryon-meson scaling. Since $\phi$-mesons are made via coalescence of seemingly thermalized $s$ quarks in central Au+Au collisions, the observations imply hot and dense matter with partonic collectivity has been formed at RHIC.
The elliptic flow, $v_{2}$($p_{T}$), for the $\phi$-meson as a function of centrality. The vertical error bars represent the statistical errors while the shaded bands represent the systematic uncertainties. For clarity, data points are shifted slightly.
(color online) Transverse momentum distributions of $\phi$-mesons from Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. For clarity, distributions for different centralities are scaled by factors of ten. Dashed lines represent the exponential fits to the distributions and the dotted lines are Levy function fits. Error bars represent statistical errors only.
(color online) The $N(\Omega)/N(\phi)$ ratio vs. $p_{T}$ for three centrality bins in $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV Au+Au collisions. The solid and dashed lines represent recombination model predictions for central collisions [21] for total and thermal contributions, respectively.
Results on high transverse momentum charged particle emission with respect to the reaction plane are presented for Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$= 200 GeV. Two- and four-particle correlations results are presented as well as a comparison of azimuthal correlations in Au+Au collisions to those in $p+p$ at the same energy. Elliptic anisotropy, $v_2$, is found to reach its maximum at $p_t \sim 3$ GeV/c, then decrease slowly and remain significant up to $p_t\approx 7$ -- 10 GeV/c. Stronger suppression is found in the back-to-back high-$p_t$ particle correlations for particles emitted out-of-plane compared to those emitted in-plane. The centrality dependence of $v_2$ at intermediate $p_t$ is compared to simple models based on jet quenching.
Azimuthal correlations in Au+Au col- lisions (squares) as a function of centrality (peripheral to cen- tral from left to right) compared to minimum bias azimuthal correlations in p + p collisions (circles). Errors are statistical only.
$v_{2}$ of charged particles as a function of transverse momentum from the two-particle cumu- lant method (triangles) and four-particle cumulant method (stars). Open circles show the 2-particle correlation results after subtracting the correlations measured in p + p collisions. Only statistical errors are shown.
Upper panel, Azimuthal distributions of associated particles for trigger particles in-plane (squares) and out-of-plane (triangles) for Au+Au collisions at centrality 20-60%. Open symbols are reflections of solid symbols around $\Delta \phi$ = 0 and $\Delta \phi$ = $\pi$. Elliptic flow contribution is shown by dashed lines. Lower panel, Distributions after substracting elliptic flow, and the corresponding measurement in p + p collisions (histogram).
We report on the observed differences in production rates of strange and multi-strange baryons in Au+Au collisions at sqrts = 200 GeV compared to pp interactions at the same energy. The strange baryon yields in Au+Au collisions, then scaled down by the number of participating nucleons, are enhanced relative to those measured in pp reactions. The enhancement observed increases with the strangeness content of the baryon, and increases for all strange baryons with collision centrality. The enhancement is qualitatively similar to that observed at lower collision energy sqrts =17.3 GeV. The previous observations are for the bulk production, while at intermediate pT, 1 < pT< 4 GeV/c, the strange baryons even exceed binary scaling from pp yields.
Midrapidity E(i) as a function of $<N_{part}>$ for $\Lambda$, $\bar{\Lambda}$ ($|y| < 1.0$), $\Xi^{-}$, $\bar{\Xi}^{+}$ ($|y| < 0.75$). Error bars on the data points represent those from the heavy ions. Stat. and syst. errors added in quadrature. Grand Canonical Model arrows(values in brackets), for $\Lambda$ E(2.6) and T(165 MeV) for $\bar{\Lambda}$ E(2.2) and T(170 MeV), for $\Xi$ E(10.7) and T(165 MeV), for anti-$\Xi$ E(7.5) and T(170 MeV).
Midrapidity E(i) as a function of $<N_{part}>$ for $\Omega^{-}+\bar{\Omega}^{+}$ ($|y| < 0.75$). Error bars on the data points represent those from the heavy ions. Stat. and syst. errors added in quadrature.
Midrapidity E(i) as a function of $<N_{part}>$ for inclusive $p$ ($|y| < 0.5$). Error bars on the data points represent those from the heavy ions. Stat. and syst. errors added in quadrature.
In ultra-peripheral relativistic heavy-ion collisions, a photon from the electromagnetic field of one nucleus can fluctuate to a quark-antiquark pair and scatter from the other nucleus, emerging as a $\rho^0$. The $\rho^0$ production occurs in two well-separated (median impact parameters of 20 and 40 fermi for the cases considered here) nuclei, so the system forms a 2-source interferometer. At low transverse momenta, the two amplitudes interfere destructively, suppressing $\rho^0$ production. Since the $\rho^0$ decay before the production amplitudes from the two sources can overlap, the two-pion system can only be described with an entangled non-local wave function, and is thus an example of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox. We observe this suppression in 200 GeV per nucleon-pair gold-gold collisions. The interference is $87% \pm 5% {\rm (stat.)}\pm 8%$ (syst.) of the expected level. This translates into a limit on decoherence due to wave function collapse or other factors, of 23% at the 90% confidence level.
Rapidity (left) and $M_{\pi\pi}$ (right) of the $\pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ distributions for the topology (exclusive $\rho^0$, top) and MB (Coulomb breakup, bottom) samples. The points with statistical error bars are the data, and the histograms are the simulations. The ’notch’ in the topology data around y = 0 is due to the explicit rapidity cut to remove cosmic-ray backgrounds.
Rapidity (left) and $M_{\pi\pi}$ (right) of the $\pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ distributions for the topology (exclusive $\rho^0$, top) and MB (Coulomb breakup, bottom) samples. The points with statistical error bars are the data, and the histograms are the simulations. The ’notch’ in the topology data around y = 0 is due to the explicit rapidity cut to remove cosmic-ray backgrounds.
Raw (uncorrected) ρ0 $t_{\perp}$-spectrum in the range 0.0 < |y| < 0.5 for the MB data. The points are data, with statistical errors. The dashed (filled) histogram is a simulation with an interference term (“Int”), while the solid histogram is a simulation without interference (“NoInt”). The handful of events histogrammed at the bottom of the plot are the wrong-sign ($\pi^{+}\pi^{+}+\pi^{-}\pi^{-}$) events, used to estimate the combinatorial background.
The STAR collaboration at RHIC presents measurements of \Jpsi$\to{e^+e^-}$ at mid-rapidity and high transverse momentum ($p_T>5$ GeV/$c$) in \pp and central \cucu collisions at \sNN = 200 GeV. The inclusive \Jpsi production cross section for \cucu collisions is found to be consistent at high $p_T$ with the binary collision-scaled cross section for \pp collisions, in contrast to previous measurements at lower $p_T$, where a suppression of \Jpsi production is observed relative to the expectation from binary scaling. Azimuthal correlations of $J/\psi$ with charged hadrons in \pp collisions provide an estimate of the contribution of $B$-meson decays to \Jpsi production of $13% \pm 5%$.
J/psi differential production cross section in sqrt(s).
J/psi transverse momentum distribution in sqrt(s).
J/psi transverse momentum distribution in sqrt(s).
Mid-rapidity open charm spectra from direct reconstruction of $D^{0}$($\bar{D^0}$)$\to K^{\mp}\pi^{\pm}$ in d+Au collisions and indirect electron/positron measurements via charm semileptonic decays in p+p and d+Au collisions at \srt = 200 GeV are reported. The $D^{0}$($\bar{D^0}$) spectrum covers a transverse momentum ($p_T$) range of 0.1 $<p_T<$ 3 \GeVc whereas the electron spectra cover a range of 1 $<p_T<$ 4 GeV/$c$. The electron spectra show approximate binary collision scaling between p+p and d+Au collisions. From these two independent analyses, the differential cross section per nucleon-nucleon binary interaction at mid-rapidity for open charm production from d+Au collisions at RHIC is $d\sigma^{NN}_{c\bar{c}}/dy$=0.30$\pm$0.04 (stat.)$\pm$0.09(syst.) mb. The results are compared to theoretical calculations. Implications for charmoniumm results in A+A collisions are discussed.
Inclusive electrons yield versus transverse momentum in D+AU collisions Data points at PT = 2.2, 2.7 and 3.5 GeV/c was obtained using only the TPC (Time Projection Chamber) and cover a pseudo-rapidity range of -1<eta<1, while other points were obtained using both a prototypeTime-of-Flight System and the TPC and cover a pseudo-rapidity range of -1<eta<0.
Inclusive electrons yield versus transverse momentum in P+P collisions.
D0 yield versus transverse momentum in D+AU collisions.
We study the beam-energy and system-size dependence of \phi meson production (using the hadronic decay mode \phi -- K+K-) by comparing the new results from Cu+Cu collisions and previously reported Au+Au collisions at \sqrt{s_NN} = 62.4 and 200 GeV measured in the STAR experiment at RHIC. Data presented are from mid-rapidity (|y|<0.5) for 0.4 < pT < 5 GeV/c. At a given beam energy, the transverse momentum distributions for \phi mesons are observed to be similar in yield and shape for Cu+Cu and Au+Au colliding systems with similar average numbers of participating nucleons. The \phi meson yields in nucleus-nucleus collisions, normalised by the average number of participating nucleons, are found to be enhanced relative to those from p+p collisions with a different trend compared to strange baryons. The enhancement for \phi mesons is observed to be higher at \sqrt{s_NN} = 200 GeV compared to 62.4 GeV. These observations for the produced \phi(s\bar{s}) mesons clearly suggest that, at these collision energies, the source of enhancement of strange hadrons is related to the formation of a dense partonic medium in high energy nucleus-nucleus collisions and cannot be alone due to canonical suppression of their production in smaller systems.
Midrapidity $(|y| < 0.5)$ transverse momentum spectra of $\phi$ mesons for various collision centrality classes for $Cu+Cu$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=62.4$ and 200 GeV. To study the system size dependence, comparison of $40-50\%$ $Au+Au$ spectra to $10-20\%$ $Cu+Cu$ spectra at 200 GeV, and $40-60\%$ $Au+Au$ spectra to $20-30\%$ $Cu+Cu$ spectra at 62.4 GeV are shown. These centralities for the two colliding systems have similar $\langle N_{\scriptsize{\mbox{part}}}\rangle$ values as outlined in Table 2. The errors represent the statistical and systematic errors added in quadrature. They are found to be within the symbol size. The spectra are fitted to a Levy function discussed in the text.
Midrapidity $(|y| < 0.5)$ transverse momentum spectra of $\phi$ mesons for various collision centrality classes for $Cu+Cu$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=62.4$ and 200 GeV. To study the system size dependence, comparison of $40-50\%$ $Au+Au$ spectra to $10-20\%$ $Cu+Cu$ spectra at 200 GeV, and $40-60\%$ $Au+Au$ spectra to $20-30\%$ $Cu+Cu$ spectra at 62.4 GeV are shown. These centralities for the two colliding systems have similar $\langle N_{\scriptsize{\mbox{part}}}\rangle$ values as outlined in Table 2. The errors represent the statistical and systematic errors added in quadrature. They are found to be within the symbol size. The spectra are fitted to a Levy function discussed in the text.
Upper panels. $N_{\scriptsize{\mbox{part}}}$ scaled ($R^{N_{\scriptsize{\mbox{part}}}}_{AA}$) nuclear modification factors as a function of $p_{T}$ of $\phi$ mesons for $0-10\%$ and $20-30\%$ $Cu+Cu$ and $Au+Au$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV. Lower panel. Same as above for $N_{\scriptsize{\mbox{bin}}}$ scaled ($R^{N_{\scriptsize{\mbox{bin}}}}_{AA}$) nuclear modification factor. The error bars represent the statistical and systematic errors added in quadrature. The shaded band in upper panel around 1 at $p_{T}=4.5-5.5$ GeV/$c$ in the right side reflects the uncertainty in $N_{\scriptsize{\mbox{part}}}$ and that on the lower panel for $N_{\scriptsize{\mbox{bin}}}$ calculation for central $Au+Au$ collisions. The respective uncertainties for central $Cu+Cu$ collisions are of similar order.
We determine rapidity asymmetry in the production of charged pions, protons and anti-protons for large transverse momentum (pT) for d+Au collisions at \sqrt s_NN = 200 GeV. The identified hadrons are measured in the rapidity regions |y| < 0.5 and 0.5 < |y| < 1.0 for the pT range 2.5 < pT < 10 GeV/c. We observe significant rapidity asymmetry for charged pion and proton+anti-proton production in both rapidity regions. The asymmetry is larger for 0.5 < |y| < 1.0 than for |y|< 0.5 and is almost independent of particle type. The measurements are compared to various model predictions employing multiple scattering, energy loss, nuclear shadowing, saturation effects, and recombination, and also to a phenomenological parton model. We find that asymmetries are sensitive to model parameters and show model-preference. The rapidity dependence of \pi^{-}/\pi^{+} and \bar{p}/p ratios in peripheral d+Au and forward neutron-tagged events are used to study the contributions of valence quarks and gluons to particle production at high pT. The results are compared to calculations based on NLO pQCD and other measurements of quark fragmentation functions.
High transverse-momentum spectra ($p_{T} > 2.5$ GeV/c) of charged pions, protons, and antiprotons for the rapidity regions $|y| < 0.5$ (solid symbols) and $0.5 < |y| < 1.0$ (open symbols) for $d+Au$ collisions and various event centrality classes at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV.
High transverse-momentum spectra ($p_{T} > 2.5$ GeV/c) of charged pions, protons, and antiprotons for the rapidity regions $|y| < 0.5$ (solid symbols) and $0.5 < |y| < 1.0$ (open symbols) for $d+Au$ collisions and various event centrality classes at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV.
High transverse-momentum spectra ($p_{T} > 2.5$ GeV/c) of charged pions, protons, and antiprotons for the rapidity regions $|y| < 0.5$ (solid symbols) and $0.5 < |y| < 1.0$ (open symbols) for $d+Au$ collisions and various event centrality classes at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV.
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