Inclusive cross sections, charge ratio and double-helicity asymmetries for $\pi^+$ and $\pi^-$ production in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=200 GeV

The PHENIX collaboration Adare, A. ; Aidala, C. ; Ajitanand, N.N. ; et al.
Phys.Rev.D 91 (2015) 032001, 2015.
Inspire Record 1315330 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.71403

We present the midrapidity charged pion invariant cross sections and the ratio of $\pi^-$-to-$\pi^+$ production ($5<p_T<13$ GeV/$c$), together with the double-helicity asymmetries ($5<p_T<12$ GeV/$c$) in polarized $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 200$ GeV. The cross section measurements are consistent with perturbative calculations in quantum chromodynamics within large uncertainties in the calculation due to the choice of factorization, renormalization, and fragmentation scales. However, the theoretical calculation of the ratio of $\pi^-$-to-$\pi^+$ production when considering these scale uncertainties overestimates the measured value, suggesting further investigation of the uncertainties on the charge-separated pion fragmentation functions is needed. Due to cancellations of uncertainties in the charge ratio, direct inclusion of these ratio data in future parameterizations should improve constraints on the flavor dependence of quark fragmentation functions to pions. By measuring charge-separated pion asymmetries, one can gain sensitivity to the sign of $\Delta G$ through the opposite sign of the up and down quark helicity distributions in conjunction with preferential fragmentation of positive pions from up quarks and negative pions from down quarks. The double-helicity asymmetries presented are sensitive to the gluon helicity distribution over an $x$ range of $\sim$0.03--0.16.

3 data tables

Invariant cross section for $\pi^+$ and $\pi^-$ hadrons, as well as the statistical and systematic uncertainties. In addition, there is an absolute scale uncertainty of 9.6$\%$.

Double-helicity asymmetries and statistical uncertainties for $\pi^+$ and $\pi^-$ hadrons. The primary systematic uncertainties, which are fully correlated between points, are $1.4\times10^{-3}$ from relative luminosity and a $^{+7.0\%}_{-7.7\%}$ scaling uncertainty from beam polarization.

Ratio of charged pion cross section, as shown in Fig.6.


GENERAL FEATURES OF CHARGED PARTICLE PRODUCTION IN ANTI-P P INTERACTIONS AT 100-GEV/C

Ward, C.P. ; Ward, D.R. ; Ansorge, R.E. ; et al.
Nucl.Phys.B 153 (1979) 299-333, 1979.
Inspire Record 146577 DOI 10.17182/hepdata.8129

We present new data on charged particle production in p p interactions at 100 GeV/ c . Comparisons are made between p p annihilations (estimated by differences) between corresponding p p and pp data samples) and e + e − annihilation into hadrons. A technique for separating the inclusive proton and pion spectra is described and the resulting pion spectra are studied in terms of Feynman x , rapidity and p T . Comparison with pp data allows us to estimate the pion spectra in p p annihilations and we find agreement with predictions of Mueller-Regge theory. We also present results on semi-inclusive π ± and proton production, give updated topological cross sections and describe further attempts to isolate effects due to annihilations. Finally we investigate the diffractive excitation of the antiproton into low-mass states by studying events with a slow recoil proton.

5 data tables

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