The PHENIX Collaboration has measured the ratio of the yields of $\psi(2S)$ to $\psi(1S)$ mesons produced in $p$$+$$p$, $p$$+$Al, $p$$+$Au, and $^{3}$He$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV over the forward and backward rapidity intervals $1.2<|y|<2.2$. We find that the ratio in $p$$+$$p$ collisions is consistent with measurements at other collision energies. In collisions with nuclei, we find that in the forward ($p$-going or $^{3}$He-going) direction, the relative yield of $\psi(2S)$ mesons to $\psi(1S)$ mesons is consistent with the value measured in \pp collisions. However, in the backward (nucleus-going) direction, the $\psi(2S)$ is preferentially suppressed by a factor of $\sim$2. This suppression is attributed in some models to breakup of the weakly-bound $\psi(2S)$ through final state interactions with comoving particles, which have a higher density in the nucleus-going direction. These breakup effects may compete with color screening in a deconfined quark-gluon plasma to produce sequential suppression of excited quarkonia states.
Summary of the measured ratios of $\Psi$(2S)/$\Psi$(1S) mesons.
Summary of the measured ratios of $\Psi$(2S)/$\Psi$(1S) mesons.
Summary of the measured ratios of $\Psi$(2S)/$\Psi$(1S) mesons.
We present the first measurements of long-range angular correlations and the transverse momentum dependence of elliptic flow $v_2$ in high-multiplicity $p$$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV. A comparison of these results with previous measurements in high-multiplicity $d$$+$Au and $^3{\rm He}$$+$Au collisions demonstrates a relation between $v_2$ and the initial collision eccentricity $\varepsilon_2$, suggesting that the observed momentum-space azimuthal anisotropies in these small systems have a collective origin and reflect the initial geometry. Good agreement is observed between the measured $v_2$ and hydrodynamic calculations for all systems, and an argument disfavoring theoretical explanations based on momentum-space domain correlations is presented. The set of measurements presented here allows us to leverage the distinct intrinsic geometry of each of these systems to distinguish between different theoretical descriptions of the long-range correlations observed in small collision systems.
The ratio of the two harmonics ($\Sigma Q^{BBC-S}$)$_{p+p}$/($\Sigma Q^{BBC-S}$)$_{pAu}$.
$v_2$ of charged hadrons within $|\eta|$ < 0.35 in 0-5% $p$+Au central collisions, compared to hydrodynamic calculations using the SONIC model, matched to the same multiplicity as the data.
We report the first measurement of the full angular distribution for inclusive $J/\psi\rightarrow\mu^{+}\mu^{-}$ decays in $p$$+$$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=510$ GeV. The measurements are made for $J/\psi$ transverse momentum $2<p_{T}<10$ GeV/$c$ and rapidity $1.2<y<2.2$ in the Helicity, Collins-Soper, and Gottfried-Jackson reference frames. In all frames the polar coefficient $\lambda_{\theta}$ is strongly negative at low $p_{T}$ and becomes close to zero at high $p_{T}$, while the azimuthal coefficient $\lambda_{\phi}$ is close to zero at low $p_{T}$, and becomes slightly negative at higher $p_{T}$. The frame-independent coefficient $\tilde{\lambda}$ is strongly negative at all $p_{T}$ in all frames. The data are compared to the theoretical predictions provided by nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics models.
Polar angular decay coefficient $\lambda_{\theta}$ as a function of transverse momentum for four reference frames and three $p_T$ bins. The numbers in the CS frame for the $p_T$ = 2-3 GeV/$c$ bin are 90% confidence level upper limits.
"Mixed" angular decay coefficient $\lambda_{\theta \phi}$ as a function of transverse momentum for four reference frames and three $p_T$ bins.
Azimuthal angular decay coefficient $\lambda_{\phi}$ as a function of transverse momentum for four reference frames and three $p_T$ bins.
The cross section and transverse single-spin asymmetries of $\mu^{-}$ and $\mu^{+}$ from open heavy-flavor decays in polarized $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV were measured by the PHENIX experiment during 2012 at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Because heavy-flavor production is dominated by gluon-gluon interactions at $\sqrt{s}=200$ GeV, these measurements offer a unique opportunity to obtain information on the trigluon correlation functions. The measurements are performed at forward and backward rapidity ($1.4<|y|<2.0$) over the transverse momentum range of $1.25<p_T<7$ GeV/$c$ for the cross section and $1.25<p_T<5$ GeV/$c$ for the asymmetry measurements. The obtained cross section is compared to a fixed-order-plus-next-to-leading-log perturbative-quantum-chromodynamics calculation. The asymmetry results are consistent with zero within uncertainties, and a model calculation based on twist-3 three-gluon correlations agrees with the data.
$A_N$ of negatively-charged muons from open heavy-flavor decays as a function of $p_T$ in the backward ($x_F$ < 0) and forward ($x_F$ > 0) regions.
$A_N$ of positively-charged muons from open heavy-flavor decays as a function of $p_T$ in the backward ($x_F$ < 0) and forward ($x_F$ > 0) regions.
$A_N$ of negatively-charged and positively-charged muons from open heavy-flavor decays as a function of $x_F$, where $x_F$ > 0 is along the direction of the polarized proton.
We report a measurement of $e^+e^-$ pairs from semileptonic heavy-flavor decays in $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$~GeV. The $e^+e^-$ pair yield from $b\bar{b}$ and $c\bar{c}$ is separated by exploiting a double differential fit done simultaneously in dielectron invariant mass and $p_T$. We used three different event generators, {\sc pythia}, {\sc mc@nlo}, and {\sc powheg}, to simulate the $e^+e^-$ spectra from $c\bar{c}$ and $b\bar{b}$ production. The data can be well described by all three generators within the detector acceptance. However, when using the generators to extrapolate to $4\pi$, significant differences are observed for the total cross section. These difference are less pronounced for $b\bar{b}$ than for $c\bar{c}$. The same model dependence was observed in already published $d$+$A$ data. The $p$+$p$ data are also directly compared with $d$+$A$ data in mass and $p_T$, and within the statistical accuracy no nuclear modification is seen.
Step by step extrapolation from the number of $e^+e^-$ pairs for $m_{e^+e^-}$ > 1.16 GeV/$c^2$ from $c\bar{c}$ in the PHENIX acceptance to the number of $c\bar{c}$ pairs in 4$\pi$ for PYTHIA, MC@NLO, and POWHEG. Numbers are in units of pairs per event using the $c\bar{c}$ cross sections determined in this paper.
Step by step extrapolation from the number of $e^+e^-$ pairs for $m_{e^+e^-}$ > 1.16 GeV/$c^2$ from $b\bar{b}$ in the PHENIX acceptance to the number of $b\bar{b}$ pairs in 4$\pi$ for PYTHIA, MC@NLO, and POWHEG. Numbers are in units of pairs per event using the $b\bar{b}$ cross sections determined in this paper.
Summary of $c\bar{c}$ and $b\bar{b}$ cross sections measured in $p$+$p$ collisions using three different generators, PYTHIA, MC@NLO, and POWHEG.
During 2015 the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) provided collisions of transversely polarized protons with Au and Al nuclei for the first time, enabling the exploration of transverse-single-spin asymmetries with heavy nuclei. Large single-spin asymmetries in very forward neutron production have been previously observed in transversely polarized $p$$+$$p$ collisions at RHIC, and the existing theoretical framework that was successful in describing the single-spin asymmetry in $p$$+$$p$ collisions predicts only a moderate atomic-mass-number ($A$) dependence. In contrast, the asymmetries observed at RHIC in $p$$+$$A$ collisions showed a surprisingly strong $A$ dependence in inclusive forward neutron production. The observed asymmetry in $p$$+$Al collisions is much smaller, while the asymmetry in $p$$+$Au collisions is a factor of three larger in absolute value and of opposite sign. The interplay of different neutron production mechanisms is discussed as a possible explanation of the observed $A$ dependence.
Forward neutron $A_N$ in $p$+$A$ collisions for $A$ = 1 ($p$), 27 (Al), and 197 (Au), for ZDC inclusive, ZDC $\otimes$ BBC-tag, and ZDC $\otimes$ BBC-veto triggered samples. The 3% scale uncertainty is from the polarization normalization uncertaintiy.
The fraction of $J/\psi$ mesons which come from B-meson decay, $\textrm{F}_{B{\rightarrow}J/\psi}$, is measured for J/$\psi$ rapidity \mbox{$1.2<|y|<2.2$} and $p_T>0$ in $p$+$p$ and Cu+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$=200 GeV with the PHENIX detector. The extracted fraction is $\textrm{F}_{B{\rightarrow}J/\psi}$ = 0.025 $\pm$ 0.006(stat) $\pm$ 0.010(syst) for $p$+$p$ collisions. For Cu+Au collisions, $\textrm{F}_{B{\rightarrow}J/\psi}$ is 0.094 $\pm$ 0.028(stat) $\pm$ 0.037(syst) in the Au-going direction ($-2.2<y<-1.2$) and 0.089 $\pm$ 0.026(stat) $\pm$ 0.040(syst) in the Cu-going direction ($1.2<y<2.2$). The nuclear modification factor, $R_{\rm CuAu}$, of B mesons in Cu+Au collisions is consistent with binary scaling of measured yields in $p$+$p$ at both forward and backward rapidity.
Differential cross section for $p$+$p$ $\rightarrow$ $b\bar{b}$ at $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV.
Fraction F$_{B \rightarrow J/\psi}$ of $B$-meson decays in the inclusive $J/\psi$ sample in $p$+$p$ and Cu+Au collisions at $sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV versus rapidity along with a theoretical estimation based on fixed-order plus next-to-leading logs (FONLL) for the $B \rightarrow J/\psi$ cross section and Color-Evaporation-Model (CEM) for the prompt $J/\psi$.
Fraction F$_{B \rightarrow J/\psi}$ of $B$-meson decays in the inclusive $J/\psi$ sample in $p$+$p$ and Cu+Au collisions at $sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV versus rapidity along with a theoretical estimation based on fixed-order plus next-to-leading logs (FONLL) for the $B \rightarrow J/\psi$ cross section and Color-Evaporation-Model (CEM) for the prompt $J/\psi$.
We report the first measurement of the fraction of $J/\psi$ mesons coming from $B$-meson decay ($F_{B{\rightarrow}J/\psi}$) in $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=$ 510 GeV. The measurement is performed using the forward silicon vertex detector and central vertex detector at PHENIX, which provide precise tracking and distance-of-closest-approach determinations, enabling the statistical separation of $J/\psi$ due to $B$-meson decays from prompt $J/\psi$. The measured value of $F_{B{\rightarrow}J/\psi}$ is 8.1\%$\pm$2.3\% (stat)$\pm$1.9\% (syst) for $J/\psi$ with transverse momenta $0<p_T<5$ GeV/$c$ and rapidity $1.2<|y|<2.2$. The measured fraction $F_{B{\rightarrow}J/\psi}$ at PHENIX is compared to values measured by other experiments at higher center of mass energies and to fixed-order-next-to-leading-logarithm and color-evaporation-model predictions. The $b\bar{b}$ cross section per unit rapidity ($d\sigma/dy(pp{\rightarrow}b\bar{b})$) extracted from the obtained $F_{B{\rightarrow}J/\psi}$ and the PHENIX inclusive $J/\psi$ cross section measured at 200 GeV scaled with color-evaporation-model calculations, at the mean $B$ hadron rapidity $y={\pm}1.7$ in 510 GeV $p$$+$$p$ collisions, is $3.63^{+1.92}_{-1.70}\mu$b, and it is consistent with the fixed-order-next-to-leading-logarithm calculations.
Fraction of $B$-meson decays in $J/\psi$ samples obtained in $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{S}$ = 510 GeV.
Fraction of $B$-meson decays in $J/\psi$ samples obtained in $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{S}$ = 510 GeV.
The $b\bar{b}$ cross section per unit rapidity ($d\sigma/dy(pp→b\bar{b})$) extracted from the obtained $F_{B \rightarrow J/\psi}$ and the PHENIX inclusive $J/\psi$ cross section measured at 200 GeV scaled with color-evaporation-model calculations, at the mean $B$ hadron rapidity.
Asymmetric nuclear collisions of $p$$+$Al, $p$$+$Au, $d$$+$Au, and $^{3}$He$+$Au at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV provide an excellent laboratory for understanding particle production, as well as exploring interactions among these particles after their initial creation in the collision. We present measurements of charged hadron production $dN_{\rm ch}/d\eta$ in all such collision systems over a broad pseudorapidity range and as a function of collision multiplicity. A simple wounded quark model is remarkably successful at describing the full data set. We also measure the elliptic flow $v_{2}$ over a similarly broad pseudorapidity range. These measurements provide key constraints on models of particle emission and their translation into flow.
Charged hadron $dN_{ch}/d\eta$ as a function of pseudorapidity in high-multiplicity 0%-5% central $^3$He+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
Charged hadron $dN_{ch}/d\eta$ as a function of pseudorapidity in high-multiplicity 0%-5% central $d$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
Charged hadron $dN_{ch}/d\eta$ as a function of pseudorapidity in high-multiplicity 0%-5% central $p$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
Recently, the PHENIX Collaboration has published second- and third-harmonic Fourier coefficients $v_2$ and $v_3$ for midrapidity ($|\eta|<0.35$) charged hadrons in 0%--5% central $p$$+$Au, $d$ $+$Au, and $^3$He$+$Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV utilizing three sets of two-particle correlations for two detector combinations with different pseudorapidity acceptance [Phys. Rev. C {\bf 105}, 024901 (2022)]. This paper extends these measurements of $v_2$ to all centralities in $p$ $+$Au, $d$ $+$Au, and $^3$He$+$Au collisions, as well as $p$$+$$p$ collisions, as a function of transverse momentum ($p_T$) and event multiplicity. The kinematic dependence of $v_2$ is quantified as the ratio $R$ of $v_2$ between the two detector combinations as a function of event multiplicity for $0.5$ $<$ $p_T$ $<$ $1$ and $2$ $<$ $p_T$ $<$ $2.5$ GeV/$c$. A multiphase-transport (AMPT) model can reproduce the observed $v_2$ in most-central to midcentral $d$$+$Au and $^3$He$+$Au collisions. However, the AMPT model systematically overestimates the measurements in $p$ $+$ $p$, $p$ $+$Au, and peripheral $d$$+$Au and $^3$He$+$Au collisions, indicating a higher nonflow contribution in AMPT than in the experimental data. The AMPT model fails to describe the observed $R$ for $0.5$ $<$ $p_T$$<$ $1$ GeV/$c$, but there is qualitative agreement with the measurements for $2$ $<$ $p_T$ $<$ $2.5$ GeV/$c$.
Azimuthal anisotropy $v_2\{BB\}$ as a function of transverse momentum $p_T$ in $p$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} =$ 200 GeV.
Azimuthal anisotropy $v_2\{BF\}$ as a function of transverse momentum $p_T$ in $p$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} =$ 200 GeV.
Azimuthal anisotropy $v_2\{BB\}$ as a function of transverse momentum $p_T$ in $d$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} =$ 200 GeV.