In 2015 the PHENIX collaboration at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider recorded $p+p$, $p+$Al, and $p+$Au collision data at center of mass energies of $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV with the proton beam(s) transversely polarized. At very forward rapidities $\eta>6.8$ relative to the polarized proton beam, neutrons were detected either inclusively or in (anti)correlation with detector activity related to hard collisions. The resulting single spin asymmetries, that were previously reported, have now been extracted as a function of the transverse momentum of the neutron as well as its longitudinal momentum fraction $x_F$. The explicit kinematic dependence, combined with the correlation information allows for a closer look at the interplay of different mechanisms suggested to describe these asymmetries, such as hadronic interactions or electromagnetic interactions in ultra-peripheral collisions, UPC. Events that are correlated with a hard collision indeed display a mostly negative asymmetry that increases in magnitude as a function of transverse momentum with only little dependence on $x_F$. In contrast, events that are not likely to have emerged from a hard collision display positive asymmetries for the nuclear collisions with a kinematic dependence that resembles that of a UPC based model. Because the UPC interaction depends strongly on the charge of the nucleus, those effects are very small for $p+p$ collisions, moderate for $p+$Al collisions, and large for $p+$Au collisions.
Measured forward neutron single spin asymmetries in p+p collisions as a function of pT in bins of xF
Measured forward neutron single spin asymmetries in p+Al collisions as a function of pT in bins of xF
Measured forward neutron single spin asymmetries in p+Au collisions as a function of pT in bins of xF
We present results on the measurement of lambda and lambda^bar production in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=130 GeV with the PHENIX detector at RHIC. The transverse momentum spectra were measured for minimum bias and for the 5% most central events. The lambda^bar/lambda ratios are constant as a function of p_T and the number of participants. The measured net lambda density is significantly larger than predicted by models based on hadronic strings (e.g. HIJING) but in approximate agreement with models which include the gluon junction mechanism.
Transverse momentum spectra of $\Lambda$ and $\bar{\Lambda}$ for minimum-bias and for the $5\%$ most central events.
The ratio of $\bar{\Lambda}$/$\Lambda$ as a function of $p_T$.
The ratio of $\bar{\Lambda}$/$\Lambda$ as a function of the number of participants.
Transverse momentum spectra of electrons from Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 130 GeV have been measured by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC. The spectra show an excess above the background from photon conversions and light hadron decays. The electron signal is consistent with that expected from semi-leptonic decays of charm. The yield of the electron signal dN_e/dy for p_T > 0.8 GeV/c is 0.025 +/- 0.004 (stat.) +/- 0.010 (sys.) in central collisions, and the corresponding charm cross section is 380 +/- 60 (stat.) +/- 200 (sys.) micro barns per binary nucleon-nucleon collision.
Transverse momentum spectra of electrons in PHENIX from Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 130 GeV.
Transverse momentum spectra of electrons in PHENIX from Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 130 GeV.
Transverse momentum spectra of electrons in PHENIX from Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 130 GeV. The upper limit for 1.9 GeV/$c$ is 4.10224e-05.
The PHENIX experiment presents results from the RHIC 2006 run with polarized proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 62.4 GeV for inclusive pi^0 production at mid-rapidity. Unpolarized cross section results are measured for transverse momenta p_T = 0.5 to 7 GeV/c. Next-to-leading order perturbative quantum chromodynamics calculations are compared with the data, and while the calculations are consistent with the measurements, next-to-leading logarithmic corrections improve the agreement. Double helicity asymmetries A_LL are presented for p_T = 1 to 4 GeV/c and probe the higher range of Bjorken_x of the gluon (x_g) with better statistical precision than our previous measurements at sqrt(s)=200 GeV. These measurements are sensitive to the gluon polarization in the proton for 0.06 < x_g < 0.4.
The fraction of inclusive $\pi^0$ yield which satisfied the BBC trigger condition.
The neutral pion production cross section at $\sqrt{s}$ = 62.4 GeV as a function of $p_T$ and the results of next-to-leading order (NLO) and next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy (NLL) perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics (pQCD) calculations for the theory scale $\mu$ = $p_T$.
The parameter $n$ obtained from the ratio of invariant cross section at $\sqrt{s}$ = 62.4 GeV and $\sqrt{s}$ = 200GeV, at each $x_T$ of $\sqrt{s}$ = 62.4 GeV data; error bars show the statistical and systematic uncertainties of the $\sqrt{s}$ = 62.4 GeV and $\sqrt{s}$ = 200 GeV data.
In 2015, the PHENIX collaboration has measured very forward ($\eta>6.8$) single-spin asymmetries of inclusive neutrons in transversely polarized proton-proton and proton-nucleus collisions at a center of mass energy of 200 GeV. A previous publication from this data set concentrated on the nuclear dependence of such asymmetries. In this measurement the explicit transverse-momentum dependence of inclusive neutron single spin asymmetries for proton-proton collisions is extracted using a bootstrapping-unfolding technique on the transverse momenta. This explicit transverse-momentum dependence will help improve the understanding of the mechanisms that create these asymmetries.
Measured and unfolded forward neutron single spin asymmetries using 3rd order polynomial parameterization in unfolding
Measured and unfolded forward neutron single spin asymmetries using a Power law parameterization in unfolding
Measured and unfolded forward neutron single spin asymmetries using an exponential parameterization in unfolding
Large parity violating longitudinal single spin asymmetries A^{e^-}_L= -0.86^{+0.14}_{-0.30} and A^{e^+}_L= 0.88^{+0.12}_{-0.71} are observed for inclusive high transverse momentum electrons and positrons in polarized pp collisions at a center of mass energy of \sqrt{s}=500\ GeV with the PHENIX detector at RHIC. These e^{+/-} come mainly from the decay of W^{+/-} and Z^0 bosons, and the asymmetries directly demonstrate parity violation in the couplings of the W^{\pm} to the light quarks. The observed electron and positron yields were used to estimate W^\pm boson production cross sections equal to \sigma(pp \to W^+ X) \times BR(W^ \to \nu_e)= 144.1+/-21.2(stat)^{+3.4}_{-10.3}(syst) +/- 15%(norm) pb, and \sigma(pp \to W^{-}X) \times BR(W^\to e^-\bar{\nu_e}) = 31.7+/-12.1(stat)^{+10.1}_{-8.2}(syst)+/-15%(norm) pb.
The spectra of positive and negative candidates before and after an isolation cut. The computation of the background before the isolation cut is described in the text. The background band after the isolation cut is computed by scaling the background before the isolation cut by the isolation cut efficiency measured in the background region (12< $p_T$ <20GeV/$c$). The systematic errors include uncertainties in the photon conversion probability, the background normalization, and the background extrapoltion to $p_T$ > 30 GeV/$c$.
Background subtracted spectra of positron candidates taken from all counts compared to the spectrum of W and Z decays from an NLO calculation.
Background subtracted spectra of electron candidates taken from all counts compared to the spectrum of W and Z decays from an NLO calculation.
The production of deuterons and antideuterons in the transverse momentum range 1.1 < p_T < 4.3 GeV/c at mid-rapidity in Au + Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV has been studied by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC. A coalescence analysis comparing the deuteron and antideuteron spectra with those of protons and antiprotons, has been performed. The coalescence probability is equal for both deuterons and antideuterons and increases as a function of p_T, which is consistent with an expanding collision zone. Comparing (anti)proton yields p_bar/p = 0.73 +/- 0.01, with (anti)deuteron yields: d_bar/d = 0.47 +/- 0.03, we estimate that n_bar/n = 0.64 +/- 0.04.
Corrected spectra for deuterons and anti-deuterons for different centralities are plotted vs $m_T$.
Corrected spectra for deuterons and anti-deuterons for different centralities are plotted vs $m_T$.
Coalescence parameter $B_2$ vs $p_T$ for deuterons (left panel) and anti-deuterons (right panel). Grey bands indicate the systematic errors. Values are plotted at the "true" mean value of $p_T$ of each bin, the extent of which is indicated by the width of the grey bars along x-axis.
New measurements are presented for charged hadron azimuthal correlations at mid-rapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 62.4 and 200 GeV. They are compared to earlier measurements obtained at sqrt(s_NN) = 130 GeV and in Pb+Pb collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 17.2 GeV. Sizeable anisotropies are observed with centrality and transverse momentum (p_T) dependence characteristic of elliptic flow (v_2). For a broad range of centralities, the observed magnitudes and trends of the differential anisotropy, v_2(p_T), change very little over the collision energy range sqrt(s_NN) = 62-200 GeV, indicating saturation of the excitation function for v_2 at these energies. Such a saturation may be indicative of the dominance of a very soft equation of state for sqrt(s_NN) = 62-200 GeV.
Assorted-$p_T$ correlation functions (0.65 < $p_{T,ref}$ < 2.5 GeV/$c$) for charged hadrons of 0.5 < $p_T$ < 0.7 GeV/$c$ and 1.0 < $p_T$ < 1.5 obtained in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{S_{NN}}$ = 62.4 GeV.
Differential anisotropy $v_2$($p_T$) for charged hadrons in Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV obtained via cumulants method
Differential anisotropy $v_2$($p_T$) for charged hadrons in Au + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV obtained via correlation function method
Presented are the first measurements of the transverse single-spin asymmetries ($A_N$) for neutral pions and eta mesons in $p$+Au and $p$+Al collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}=200$ GeV in the pseudorapidity range $|\eta|<$0.35 with the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The asymmetries are consistent with zero, similar to those for midrapidity neutral pions and eta mesons produced in $p$+$p$ collisions. These measurements show no evidence of additional effects that could potentially arise from the more complex partonic environment present in proton-nucleus collisions.
Data from Figure 2 (a) of the $\pi^{0}$ transverse single-spin asymmetry in $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV $p^{\uparrow}+$Au and $p^{\uparrow}+$Al collisions as a function of $p_{T}$.
Data from Figure 2 (b) of the $\eta$ transverse single-spin asymmetry in $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV $p^{\uparrow}+$Au and $p^{\uparrow}+$Al collisions as a function of $p_{T}$.
We report on the yield of protons and anti-protons, as a function of centrality and transverse momentum, in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV measured at mid-rapidity by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC. In central collisions at intermediate transverse momenta (1.5 < p_T < 4.5 GeV/c) a significant fraction of all produced particles are protons and anti-protons. They show a centrality-scaling behavior different from that of pions. The p-bar/pion and p/pion ratios are enhanced compared to peripheral Au+Au, p+p, and electron+positron collisions. This enhancement is limited to p_T < 5 GeV/c as deduced from the ratio of charged hadrons to pi^0 measured in the range 1.5 < p_T < 9 GeV/c.
$p$/$\pi^+$ and $p$/$\pi^-$ ratios for central (0-10%) mid-central (20-30%) and peripheral (60-92%) Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
$p$/$\pi^-$ and $p$/$\pi^0$ ratios for central (0-10%) mid-central (20-30%) and peripheral (60-92%) Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV.
$p$ and $\bar{p}$ invariant yields scaled by $N_{coll}$. Error bars are statistical. Systematic errors on $N_{coll}$ range from ~ 10% for central to ~ 28% for 60-92% centrality. Multiplicity dependent normalization errors are ~3%.
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