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A. Andronic

Publications and source records attributed to A. Andronic.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Statistical hadronization of charm: from FAIR to the LHC

We discuss the production of charmonium in nuclear collisions within the framework of the statistical hadronization model. We demonstrate that the model reproduces very well the availble data at RHIC. We provide predictions for the LHC energy where, dependently on the charm production cross section, a dramatically different behaviour of charmonium production as a function of centrality might be expected. We extend our predictions for charm production towards the threshold energies, where charm is expected to be measured at the future FAIR facility.

nucl-th↗

Azimuthal dependence of pion source radii in Pb+Au collisions at 158 A GeV

We present results of a two-pion correlation analysis performed with the Au+Pb collision data collected by the upgraded CERES experiment in the fall of 2000. The analysis was done in bins of the reaction centrality and the pion azimuthal emission angle with respect to the reaction plane. The pion source, deduced from the data, is slightly elongated in the direction perpendicular to the reaction plane, similarly as was observed at the AGS and at RHIC.

nucl-ex↗

Charmonium and open charm production in nuclear collisions at SPS/FAIR energies and the possible influence of a hot hadronic medium

We provide predictions for charmonium and open charm production in nuclear collisions at SPS/FAIR energies within the framework of the statistical hadronization model. The increasing importance at lower energies of Lambda_c production is demonstrated and provides a challenge for future experiments. We also demonstrate that, because of the large charm quark mass and the different timescales for charm quark and charmed hadron production, possible modifications of charmed hadrons in the hot hadronic medium do not lead to measurable changes in cross sections for D-meson production. A possible influence of medium effects can be seen, however, in yields of charmonium. These effects are visible at all energies and results are presented for the energy range between charm threshold and RHIC energy.

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Statistical hadronization of charm quarks in ultra-relativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions

We discuss the production of charmonium and open charm in nuclear collisions at SPS/FAIR energies within the framework of the statistical hadronization model. The increasing importance at lower energies of Lambda_c production is discussed and provides a challenge for future experiments. We also show that possible modifications of charmed hadrons in the hot hadronic medium do not lead to measurable changes in the cross sections for D-meson production. A possible influence of medium effects can be seen, however, in yields of charmonium. These effects are visible at all energies and results will be presented for the energy range between charm threshold and RHIC energy.

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Evidence for charmonium generation at the phase boundary in ultra-relativistic nuclear collisions

We investigate the transition from suppression to enhancement of J/psi mesons produced in ultra-relativistic nuclear collisions in the framework of the statistical hadronization model. The calculations are confronted with the most recent data from the RHIC accelerator. This comparison yields first direct evidence for generation of J/psi mesons at the phase boundary. Based on the success of this approach we make specific predictions for LHC energy.

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Thermal Dileptons at LHC

We predict dilepton invariant-mass spectra for central 5.5 ATeV Pb-Pb collisions at LHC. Hadronic emission in the low-mass region is calculated using in-medium spectral functions of light vector mesons within hadronic many-body theory. In the intermediate-mass region thermal radiation from the Quark-Gluon Plasma, evaluated perturbatively with hard-thermal loop corrections, takes over. An important source over the entire mass range are decays of correlated open-charm hadrons, rendering the nuclear modification of charm and bottom spectra a critical ingredient.

hep-ph↗

Statistical hadronization of heavy quarks in ultra-relativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions

We present new results on the statistical hadronization of heavy quarks at SPS, RHIC and LHC energies. Several new aspects are considered, among them a separation of the collision geometry into a ``core'' and a ``corona'' part and an estimate of the annihilation rate of charm quark in a hot plasma, together with a critical assessment of its influence on the results. For RHIC energies we investigate the centrality dependence of J/psi production focusing on the model results for different values of the charm production cross section, including its theoretical and experimental uncertainty. We also study, within this model, the rapidity dependence of the J/psi yield. Recent RHIC data from the PHENIX experiment are well reproduced. At LHC energy, we update our model predictions for the centrality dependence of the J/psi yield and investigate as well the rapidity dependence. We also discuss the transverse momentum distributions of J/psi mesons expected from the model and provide predictions for a range of values of the expansion velocity at chemical freeze-out. Finally, we extend the model to predict Upsilon yields in Pb+Pb collisions at LHC energy.

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Systematics of Stopping and Flow in Au+Au Collisions

Excitation functions of flow and stopping observables for the Au+Au system at energies from 40 to 1500 MeV per nucleon are presented. The systematics were obtained by merging the results of the INDRA and FOPI experiments, both performed at the GSI facility. The connection to the nuclear equation of state is discussed.

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Hadron production in central nucleus-nucleus collisions at chemical freeze-out

We analyze the experimental hadron yield ratios for central nucleus-nucleus collisions in terms of thermal model calculations over a broad energy range, $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=2.7-200 GeV. The fits of the experimental data with the model calculations provide the thermal parameters, temperature and baryo-chemical potential at chemical freeze-out. We compare our results with the values obtained in other studies and also investigate more technical aspects such as a potential bias in the fits when fitting particle ratios or yields. Using parametrizations of the temperature and baryonic chemical potential as a function of energy, we compare the model calculations with data for a large variety of hadron yield ratios. We provide quantitative predictions for experiments at LHC energy, as well as for the low RHIC energy of 62.4 GeV. The relation of the determined parameters with the QCD phase boundary is discussed.

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Transition Radiation Spectra of Electrons from 1 to 10 GeV/c in Regular and Irregular Radiators

We present measurements of the spectral distribution of transition radiation generated by electrons of momentum 1 to 10 GeV/c in different radiator types. We investigate periodic foil radiators and irregular foam and fiber materials. The transition radiation photons are detected by prototypes of the drift chambers to be used in the Transition Radiation Detector (TRD) of the ALICE experiment at CERN, which are filled with a Xe, CO2 (15 %) mixture. The measurements are compared to simulations in order to enhance the quantitative understanding of transition radiation production, in particular the momentum dependence of the transition radiation yield.

physics.ins-det↗

Statistical production of antikaon nuclear bound states in heavy ion collisions

Recently it was conjectured that the strongly attractive antikaon--nucleon potential can result in the formation of antikaon nuclear bound states. We discuss the formation of such states as possible residues in heavy ion collisions. In this context, we calculate the excitation functions of single- and double-$K^-$ clusters in terms of the statistical thermal model. We show that, if such objects indeed exist, then, in heavy ion collisions, the single-$K^-$ clusters are most abundantly produced at present SIS energies, while the double-$K^-$ clusters show a pronounced maximum yield in the energy domain of the future accelerator at GSI. This is a direct consequence of: i) the baryonic dominance in low energy heavy ion collisions and the large baryonic content of the antikaonic bound states; ii) the strong energy dependence of strangeness production at low energies. The production yields of double-strange clusters is compared with that of double strange baryons. It is shown that at SIS energy there is a linear scaling relation of the $Ξ^-/K^+$ with $K^+/p$ yields ratio.

nucl-th↗

Excitation function of elliptic flow in Au+Au collisions and the nuclear matter equation of state

We present measurements of the excitation function of elliptic flow at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at beam energies from 0.09 to 1.49 GeV per nucleon. For the integral flow, we discuss the interplay between collective expansion and spectator shadowing for three centrality classes. A complete excitation function of transverse momentum dependence of elliptic flow is presented for the first time in this energy range, revealing a rapid change with incident energy below 0.4 AGeV, followed by an almost perfect scaling at the higher energies. The equation of state of compressed nuclear matter is addressed through comparisons to microscopic transport model calculations.

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Ultrarelativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions and the quark-gluon plasma

We present an overview of selected aspects of ultrarelativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions, a research program devoted to the study of strongly interacting matter at high energy densities and in particular to the characterization of the quark-gluon plasma (QGP). The basic features of the phase diagram of nuclear matter, as currently understood theoretically, are discussed. The experimental program, carried out over a broad energy domain at various accelerators, is briefly reviewed, with an emphasis on the global characterization of nucleus-nucleus collisions. Two particular aspects are treated in more detail: i) the application of statistical models to a phenomenological description of particle production and the information it provides on the phase diagram; ii) the production of hadrons carrying charm quarks as messengers from the QGP phase.

hep-ph↗

Electron identification performance with ALICE TRD prototypes

We present the electron/pion identification performance measured with prototypes for ALICE TRD. Measured spectra of energy deposit of pions and electrons as well as their average values are presented and compared to calculations. Various radiators are investigated over the momentum range of 1 to 6 GeV/c. The time signature of TR is exploited in a bidimensional likelihood mothod.

physics.ins-det↗

Drift velocity and gain in argon- and xenon-based mixtures

We present measurements of drift velocities and gains in gas mixtures based on Ar and Xe, with CO2, CH4, and N2 as quenchers, and compare them with calculations. In particular, we show the dependence of Ar- and Xe-CO2 drift velocities and gains on the amount of nitrogen contamination in the gas, which in real experiments may build up through leaks. A quantification of the Penning mechanism which contributes to the Townsend coefficients of a given gas mixture is proposed.

physics.ins-det↗

Space charge in drift chambers operated with the Xe,CO2(15%) mixture

Using prototype modules of the ALICE Transition Radiation Detector we investigate space charge effects and the dependence of the pion rejection performance on the incident angle of the ionizing particle. The average pulse height distributions in the drift chambers operated with the Xe,CO2(15%) mixture provide quantitative information on the gas gain reduction due to space charge accumulating during the drift of the primary ionization. Our results demonstrate that the pion rejection performance of a TRD is better for tracks which are not at normal incidence to the anode wires. We present detailed simulations of detector signals, which reproduce the measurements and lend strong support to our interpretation of the measurements in terms of space charge effects.

physics.ins-det↗

Azimuthal dependence of collective expansion for symmetric heavy ion collisions

Detailed studies of the azimuthal dependence of the mean fragment and flow energies in the Au+Au and Xe+CsI systems are reported as a function of incident energy and centrality. Comparisons between data and model calculations show that the flow energy values along different azimuthal directions could be viewed as snapshots of the fireball expansion with different exposure times. For the same number of participating nucleons more transversally elongated participant shapes from the heavier system produce less collective transverse energy. Good agreement with BUU calculations is obtained for a soft nuclear equation of state.

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