R-3 Repository :: Browsing by Author "STAR Collaboration"

Browsing by Author "STAR Collaboration"

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Anomalous centrality evolution of two-particle angular correlations from Au-Au collisions at √sNN=62 and 200 GeV
(American Physical Society, 2012) STAR Collaboration
We present two-dimensional (2D) two-particle angular correlations measured with the STAR detector on relative pseudorapidity η and azimuth ϕ for charged particles from Au-Au collisions at √sNN=62 and 200 GeV with transverse momentum pt≥0.15 GeV/c, |η|≤1, and 2π in azimuth. Observed correlations include a same-side (relative azimuth <π/2) 2D peak, a closely related away-side azimuth dipole, and an azimuth quadrupole conventionally associated with elliptic flow. The same-side 2D peak and away-side dipole are explained by semihard parton scattering and fragmentation (minijets) in proton-proton and peripheral nucleus-nucleus collisions. Those structures follow N-N binary-collision scaling in Au-Au collisions until midcentrality, where a transition to a qualitatively different centrality trend occurs within one 10% centrality bin. Above the transition point the number of same-side and away-side correlated pairs increases rapidly relative to binary-collision scaling, the η width of the same-side 2D peak also increases rapidly (η elongation), and the ϕ width actually decreases significantly. Those centrality trends are in marked contrast with conventional expectations for jet quenching in a dense medium. The observed centrality trends are compared to perturbative QCD predictions computed in hijing, which serve as a theoretical baseline, and to the expected trends for semihard parton scattering and fragmentation in a thermalized opaque medium predicted by theoretical calculations and phenomenological models. We are unable to reconcile a semihard parton scattering and fragmentation origin for the observed correlation structure and centrality trends with heavy-ion collision scenarios that invoke rapid parton thermalization. If the collision system turns out to be effectively opaque to few-GeV partons the present observations would be inconsistent with the minijet picture discussed here.
Azimuthal Anisotropy in $\mathrm{U}+\mathrm{U}$ and $\mathrm{Au}+\mathrm{Au}$ Collisions at RHIC
(American Physical Society, 2015) STAR Collaboration
Collisions between prolate uranium nuclei are used to study how particle production and azimuthal anisotropies depend on initial geometry in heavy-ion collisions. We report the two- and four-particle cumulants, v2{2} and v2{4}, for charged hadrons from U+U collisions at √sNN=193 GeV and Au+Au collisions at √sNN=200 GeV. Nearly fully overlapping collisions are selected based on the energy deposited by spectators in zero degree calorimeters (ZDCs). Within this sample, the observed dependence of v2{2} on multiplicity demonstrates that ZDC information combined with multiplicity can preferentially select different overlap configurations in U+U collisions. We also show that v2 vs multiplicity can be better described by models, such as gluon saturation or quark participant models, that eliminate the dependence of the multiplicity on the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions.
Azimuthal anisotropy in Cu+Au collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{\mathit{NN}}}=200$ GeV
(American Physical Society, 2018) STAR Collaboration
The azimuthal anisotropic flow of identified and unidentified charged particles has been systematically studied in Cu+Au collisions at √sNN=200 GeV for harmonics n=1–4 in the pseudorapidity range |η|<1. The directed flow in Cu+Au collisions is compared with the rapidity-odd and, for the first time, the rapidity-even components of charged particle directed flow in Au+Au collisions at √sNN=200 GeV. The slope of the directed flow pseudorapidity dependence in Cu+Au collisions is found to be similar to that in Au+Au collisions, with the intercept shifted toward positive pseudorapidity values, i.e., the Cu-going direction. The mean transverse momentum projected onto the spectator plane ⟨px⟩ in Cu+Au collision also exhibits approximately linear dependence on pseudorapidity with the intercept at about η≈−0.4 (shifted from zero in the Au-going direction), closer to the rapidity of the Cu+Au system center of mass. The observed dependencies find a natural explanation in a picture of the directed flow originating partly due the “tilted source” and partly due to the asymmetry in the initial density distribution. A charge dependence of ⟨px⟩ was also observed in Cu+Au collisions, consistent with an effect of the initial electric field created by charge difference of the spectator protons in two colliding nuclei. The rapidity-even component of directed flow in Au+Au collisions is close to that in Pb+Pb collisions at √sNN=2.76 TeV, indicating a similar magnitude of dipolelike fluctuations in the initial-state density distribution. Higher harmonic flow in Cu+Au collisions exhibits similar trends to those observed in Au+Au and Pb+Pb collisions and is qualitatively reproduced by a viscous hydrodynamic model and a multiphase transport model. For all harmonics with n≥2 we observe an approximate scaling of vn with the number of constituent quarks; this scaling works as well in Cu+Au collisions as it does in Au+Au collisions.
Azimuthal anisotropy measurement of (multi)strange hadrons in Au+Au collisions at √sNN=54.4 GeV
(American Physical Society, 2023) STAR Collaboration
Azimuthal anisotropy of produced particles is one of the most important observables used to access the collective properties of the expanding medium created in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. In this paper, we present second (v2) and third (v3) order azimuthal anisotropies of K0S, ϕ, Λ, Ξ, and Ω at midrapidity (|y|<1) in Au+Au collisions at √sNN=54.4 GeV measured by the STAR detector. The v2 and v3 are measured as a function of transverse momentum and centrality. Their energy dependence is also studied. v3 is found to be more sensitive to the change in the center-of-mass energy than v2. Scaling by constituent quark number is found to hold for v2 within 10%. This observation could be evidence for the development of partonic collectivity in 54.4 GeV Au+Au collisions. Differences in v2 and v3 between baryons and antibaryons are presented, and ratios of v3/v3/22 are studied and motivated by hydrodynamical calculations. The ratio of v2 of ϕ mesons to that of antiprotons [v2(ϕ)/v2(¯p)] shows centrality dependence at low transverse momentum, presumably resulting from the larger effects from hadronic interactions on antiproton v2.
Azimuthal transverse single-spin asymmetries of inclusive jets and charged pions within jets from polarized-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=500\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$
(American Physical Society, 2018) STAR Collaboration
We report the first measurements of transverse single-spin asymmetries for inclusive jet and jet+π± production at midrapidity from transversely polarized proton-proton collisions at √s=500 GeV. The data were collected in 2011 with the STAR detector sampled from 23 pb−1 integrated luminosity with an average beam polarization of 53%. Asymmetries are reported for jets with transverse momenta 6
Beam Energy Dependence of Fifth- and Sixth-Order Net-Proton Number Fluctuations in Au+Au Collisions at RHIC
(American Physical Society, 2023) STAR Collaboration
We report the beam energy and collision centrality dependence of fifth and sixth order cumulants (C5, C6) and factorial cumulants (κ5, κ6) of net-proton and proton number distributions, from center-of-mass energy (√sNN) 3 GeV to 200 GeV Au+Au collisions at RHIC. Cumulant ratios of net-proton (taken as proxy for net-baryon) distributions generally follow the hierarchy expected from QCD thermodynamics, except for the case of collisions at 3 GeV. The measured values of C6/C2 for 0%–40% centrality collisions show progressively negative trend with decreasing energy, while it is positive for the lowest energy studied. These observed negative signs are consistent with QCD calculations (for baryon chemical potential, μB≤110 MeV) which contains the crossover transition range. In addition, for energies above 7.7 GeV, the measured proton κn, within uncertainties, does not support the two-component (Poisson+binomial) shape of proton number distributions that would be expected from a first-order phase transition. Taken in combination, the hyperorder proton number fluctuations suggest that the structure of QCD matter at high baryon density, μB∼750 MeV at √sNN=3 GeV is starkly different from those at vanishing μB∼24 MeV at √sNN=200 GeV and higher collision energies.
Beam Energy Dependence of Jet-Quenching Effects in $\mathrm{Au}+\mathrm{Au}$ Collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{\mathrm{NN}}}=7.7$, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27, 39, and 62.4 GeV
(American Physical Society, 2018) STAR Collaboration
We report measurements of the nuclear modification factor RCP for charged hadrons as well as identified π+(−), K+(−), and p(¯p) for Au+Au collision energies of √sNN=7.7, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27, 39, and 62.4 GeV. We observe a clear high-pT net suppression in central collisions at 62.4 GeV for charged hadrons which evolves smoothly to a large net enhancement at lower energies. This trend is driven by the evolution of the pion spectra but is also very similar for the kaon spectra. While the magnitude of the proton RCP at high pT does depend on the collision energy, neither the proton nor the antiproton RCP at high pT exhibit net suppression at any energy. A study of how the binary collision-scaled high-pT yield evolves with centrality reveals a nonmonotonic shape that is consistent with the idea that jet quenching is increasing faster than the combined phenomena that lead to enhancement.
Beam Energy Dependence of Moments of the Net-Charge Multiplicity Distributions in Au+Au Collisions at RHIC
(American Physical Society, 2014) STAR Collaboration
We report the first measurements of the moments—mean (M), variance (σ2), skewness (S), and kurtosis (κ)—of the net-charge multiplicity distributions at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at seven energies, ranging from √sNN=7.7 to 200 GeV, as a part of the Beam Energy Scan program at RHIC. The moments are related to the thermodynamic susceptibilities of net charge, and are sensitive to the location of the QCD critical point. We compare the products of the moments, σ2/M, Sσ, and κσ2, with the expectations from Poisson and negative binomial distributions (NBDs). The Sσ values deviate from the Poisson baseline and are close to the NBD baseline, while the κσ2 values tend to lie between the two. Within the present uncertainties, our data do not show nonmonotonic behavior as a function of collision energy. These measurements provide a valuable tool to extract the freeze-out parameters in heavy-ion collisions by comparing with theoretical models.
Beam energy dependence of net-Λ fluctuations measured by the STAR experiment at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider
(American Physical Society, 2020) STAR Collaboration
The measurements of particle multiplicity distributions have generated considerable interest in understanding the fluctuations of conserved quantum numbers in the quantum chromodynamics (QCD) hadronization regime, in particular near a possible critical point and near the chemical freeze-out. Net-protons and net-kaons have been used as proxies for the net-baryon number and net-strangeness, respectively. We report the measurement of efficiency- and centrality-bin width-corrected cumulant ratios (C2/C1, C3/C2) of net-Λ distributions, in the context of both strangeness and baryon number conservation, as a function of collision energy, centrality, and rapidity. The results are for Au+Au collisions at five beam energies (√sNN=19.6, 27, 39, 62.4, and 200 GeV) recorded with the Solenoidal Tracker at RHIC (STAR). We compare our results to the Poisson and negative binomial (NBD) expectations, as well as to ultrarelativistic quantum molecular dynamics (UrQMD) and hadron resonance gas (HRG) model predictions. Both NBD and Poisson baselines agree with data within the statistical and systematic uncertainties. UrQMD describes the measured net-ΛC1 and C3 at 200 GeV reasonably well but deviates from C2, and the deviation increases as a function of collision energy. The ratios of the measured cumulants show no features of critical fluctuations. The chemical freeze-out temperatures extracted from a recent HRG calculation, which was successfully used to describe the net-proton, net-kaon, and net-charge data, indicate Λ freeze-out conditions similar to those of kaons. However, large deviations are found when comparing with temperatures obtained from net-proton fluctuations. The net-Λ cumulants show a weak but finite dependence on the rapidity coverage in the acceptance of the detector, which can be attributed to quantum number conservation.
Beam energy dependence of rapidity-even dipolar flow in Au+Au collisions
(Elsevier, 2018) STAR Collaboration
New measurements of directed flow for charged hadrons, characterized by the Fourier coefficient v1, are presented for transverse momenta pT, and centrality intervals in Au+Au collisions recorded by the STAR experiment for the center-of-mass energy range sNN=7.7–200 GeV. The measurements underscore the importance of momentum conservation, and the characteristic dependencies on sNN, centrality and pT are consistent with the expectations of geometric fluctuations generated in the initial stages of the collision, acting in concert with a hydrodynamic-like expansion. The centrality and pT dependencies of v1even, as well as an observed similarity between its excitation function and that for v3, could serve as constraints for initial-state models. The v1even excitation function could also provide an important supplement to the flow measurements employed for precision extraction of the temperature dependence of the specific shear viscosity.
Beam energy dependence of the linear and mode-coupled flow harmonics in Au+Au collisions
(Elsevier, 2023) STAR Collaboration
The linear and mode-coupled contributions to higher-order anisotropic flow are presented for Au+Au collisions at sNN = 27, 39, 54.4, and 200 GeV and compared to similar measurements for Pb+Pb collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The coefficients and the flow harmonics' correlations, which characterize the linear and mode-coupled response to the lower-order anisotropies, indicate a beam energy dependence consistent with an influence from the specific shear viscosity (η/s). In contrast, the dimensionless coefficients, mode-coupled response coefficients, and normalized symmetric cumulants are approximately beam-energy independent, consistent with a significant role from initial-state effects. These measurements could provide unique supplemental constraints to (i) distinguish between different initial-state models and (ii) delineate the temperature (T) and baryon chemical potential (μB) dependence of the specific shear viscosity ηs(T,μB).
Beam Energy Dependence of Triton Production and Yield Ratio (Nt×Np/N2d) in Au+Au Collisions at RHIC
(American Physical Society, 2023) STAR Collaboration
We report the triton (t) production in midrapidity (|y|<0.5) Au+Au collisions at √sNN=7.7–200 GeV measured by the STAR experiment from the first phase of the beam energy scan at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The nuclear compound yield ratio (Nt×Np/N2d), which is predicted to be sensitive to the fluctuation of local neutron density, is observed to decrease monotonically with increasing charged-particle multiplicity (dNch/dη) and follows a scaling behavior. The dNch/dη dependence of the yield ratio is compared to calculations from coalescence and thermal models. Enhancements in the yield ratios relative to the coalescence baseline are observed in the 0%-10% most central collisions at 19.6 and 27 GeV, with a significance of 2.3σ and 3.4σ, respectively, giving a combined significance of 4.1σ. The enhancements are not observed in peripheral collisions or model calculations without critical fluctuation, and decreases with a smaller pT acceptance. The physics implications of these results on the QCD phase structure and the production mechanism of light nuclei in heavy-ion collisions are discussed.
Beam-Energy Dependence of Charge Separation along the Magnetic Field in Au+Au Collisions at RHIC
(American Physical Society, 2014) STAR Collaboration
Local parity-odd domains are theorized to form inside a quark-gluon plasma which has been produced in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. The local parity-odd domains manifest themselves as charge separation along the magnetic field axis via the chiral magnetic effect. The experimental observation of charge separation has previously been reported for heavy-ion collisions at the top RHIC energies. In this Letter, we present the results of the beam-energy dependence of the charge correlations in Au+Au collisions at midrapidity for center-of-mass energies of 7.7, 11.5, 19.6, 27, 39, and 62.4ﾠGeV from the STAR experiment. After background subtraction, the signal gradually reduces with decreased beam energy and tends to vanish by 7.7ﾠGeV. This implies the dominance of hadronic interactions over partonic ones at lower collision energies.
Beam-Energy Dependence of Directed Flow of $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}$, $\overline{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}$, ${K}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$, ${K}_{s}^{0}$, and $\ensuremath{\phi}$ in $\mathrm{Au}+\mathrm{Au}$ Collisions
(American Physical Society, 2018) STAR Collaboration
Rapidity-odd directed-flow measurements at midrapidity are presented for Λ, ¯Λ, K±, K0s, and ϕ at √sNN=7.7, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27, 39, 62.4, and 200 GeV in Au+Au collisions recorded by the Solenoidal Tracker detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. These measurements greatly expand the scope of data available to constrain models with differing prescriptions for the equation of state of quantum chromodynamics. Results show good sensitivity for testing a picture where flow is assumed to be imposed before hadron formation and the observed particles are assumed to form via coalescence of constituent quarks. The pattern of departure from a coalescence-inspired sum rule can be a valuable new tool for probing the collision dynamics.
Beam-energy dependence of the directed flow of deuterons in Au+Au collisions
(American Physical Society, 2020) STAR Collaboration
We present a measurement of the first-order azimuthal anisotropy v1 of deuterons from Au+Au collisions at √sNN=7.7, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27, and 39 GeV recorded with the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The energy dependence of the v1(y) slope, dv1/dy|y=0, for deuterons, where y is the rapidity, is extracted for semicentral collisions (10%–40% centrality) and compared with that of protons. While the v1(y) slopes of protons are generally negative for √sNN>10GeV, those for deuterons are consistent with zero, a strong enhancement of the v1(y) slope of deuterons is seen at the lowest collision energy (the largest baryon density) at √sNN=7.7GeV. In addition, we report the transverse momentum dependence of v1 for protons and deuterons. The experimental results are compared with transport and coalescence models.
Beam-Energy Dependence of the Directed Flow of Protons, Antiprotons, and Pions in Au+Au Collisions
(American Physical Society, 2014) STAR Collaboration
Rapidity-odd directed flow (v1) measurements for charged pions, protons, and antiprotons near midrapidity (y=0) are reported in √sNN=7.7, 11.5, 19.6, 27, 39, 62.4, and 200 GeV Au+Au collisions as recorded by the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. At intermediate impact parameters, the proton and net-proton slope parameter dv1/dy|y=0 shows a minimum between 11.5 and 19.6 GeV. In addition, the net-proton dv1/dy|y=0 changes sign twice between 7.7 and 39 GeV. The proton and net-proton results qualitatively resemble predictions of a hydrodynamic model with a first-order phase transition from hadronic matter to deconfined matter, and differ from hadronic transport calculations.
Beam-energy-dependent two-pion interferometry and the freeze-out eccentricity of pions measured in heavy ion collisions at the STAR detector
(American Physical Society, 2015) STAR Collaboration
We present results of analyses of two-pion interferometry in Au+Au collisions at √sNN=7.7, 11.5, 19.6, 27, 39, 62.4, and 200 GeV measured in the STAR detector as part of the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider Beam Energy Scan program. The extracted correlation lengths (Hanbury-Brown–Twiss radii) are studied as a function of beam energy, azimuthal angle relative to the reaction plane, centrality, and transverse mass (mT) of the particles. The azimuthal analysis allows extraction of the eccentricity of the entire fireball at kinetic freeze-out. The energy dependence of this observable is expected to be sensitive to changes in the equation of state. A new global fit method is studied as an alternate method to directly measure the parameters in the azimuthal analysis. The eccentricity shows a monotonic decrease with beam energy that is qualitatively consistent with the trend from all model predictions and quantitatively consistent with a hadronic transport model.
Bulk properties of the medium produced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions from the beam energy scan program
(American Physical Society, 2017) STAR Collaboration
We present measurements of bulk properties of the matter produced in Au+Au collisions at √sNN=7.7,11.5,19.6,27, and 39 GeV using identified hadrons (π±, K±, p, and ¯p) from the STAR experiment in the Beam Energy Scan (BES) Program at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). Midrapidity (|y|<0.1) results for multiplicity densities dN/dy, average transverse momenta ⟨pT⟩, and particle ratios are presented. The chemical and kinetic freeze-out dynamics at these energies are discussed and presented as a function of collision centrality and energy. These results constitute the systematic measurements of bulk properties of matter formed in heavy-ion collisions over a broad range of energy (or baryon chemical potential) at RHIC.
Centrality and Transverse Momentum Dependence of Elliptic Flow of Multistrange Hadrons and $\ensuremath{\phi}$ Meson in $\mathrm{Au}+\mathrm{Au}$ Collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{NN}}=200\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$
(American Physical Society, 2016) STAR Collaboration
We present high precision measurements of elliptic flow near midrapidity (|y|<1.0) for multistrange hadrons and ϕ meson as a function of centrality and transverse momentum in Au+Au collisions at center of mass energy √sNN=200 GeV. We observe that the transverse momentum dependence of ϕ and Ω v2 is similar to that of π and p, respectively, which may indicate that the heavier strange quark flows as strongly as the lighter up and down quarks. This observation constitutes a clear piece of evidence for the development of partonic collectivity in heavy-ion collisions at the top RHIC energy. Number of constituent quark scaling is found to hold within statistical uncertainty for both 0%–30% and 30%–80% collision centrality. There is an indication of the breakdown of previously observed mass ordering between ϕ and proton v2 at low transverse momentum in the 0%–30% centrality range, possibly indicating late hadronic interactions affecting the proton v2.
Centrality and transverse-momentum dependence of higher-order flow harmonics of identified hadrons in Au+Au collisions at √sNN=200 GeV
(American Physical Society, 2022) STAR Collaboration
We present high-precision measurements of elliptic, triangular, and quadrangular flow v2, v3, and v4, respectively, at midrapidity for identified hadrons π, p, K, φ, Ks, Λ as a function of centrality and transverse momentum in Au+Au collisions at the center-of-mass energy √sNN=200 GeV. We observe similar vn trends between light and strange mesons which indicates that the heavier strange quarks flow as strongly as the lighter up and down quarks. The number-of-constituent-quark scaling for v2, v3, and v4 is found to hold within statistical uncertainty for 0–10%, 10–40%, and 40–80% collision centrality intervals. The results are compared to several viscous hydrodynamic calculations with varying initial conditions, and could serve as an additional constraint to the development of hydrodynamic models.