arXiv subjects

A. Malakhov

Publications and source records attributed to A. Malakhov.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Production of $π^+$ and $K^+$ mesons in argon-nucleus interactions at 3.2 AGeV

First physics results of the BM@N experiment at the Nuclotron/NICA complex are presented on π+ and K+ meson production in interactions of an argon beam with fixed targets of C, Al, Cu, Sn and Pb at 3.2 AGeV. Transverse momentum distributions, rapidity spectra and multiplicities of $π^+$ and $K^+$ mesons are measured. The results are compared with predictions of theoretical models and with other measurements at lower energies.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

Unperturbed inverse kinematics nucleon knockout measurements with a 48 GeV/c carbon beam

From superconductors to atomic nuclei, strongly-interacting many-body systems are ubiquitous in nature. Measuring the microscopic structure of such systems is a formidable challenge, often met by particle knockout scattering experiments. While such measurements are fundamental for mapping the structure of atomic nuclei, their interpretation is often challenged by quantum mechanical initial- and final-state interactions (ISI/FSI) of the incoming and scattered particles. Here we overcome this fundamental limitation by measuring the quasi-free scattering of 48 GeV/c 12C ions from hydrogen. The distribution of single protons is studied by detecting two protons at large angles in coincidence with an intact 11B nucleus. The 11B detection is shown to select the transparent part of the reaction and exclude the otherwise large ISI/FSI that would break the 11B apart. By further detecting residual 10B and 10Be nuclei, we also identified short-range correlated (SRC) nucleon-nucleon pairs, and provide direct experimental evidence for the separation of the pair wave-function from that of the residual many-body nuclear system. All measured reactions are well described by theoretical calculations that do not contain ISI/FSI distortions. Our results thus showcase a new ability to study the short-distance structure of short-lived radioactive atomic nuclei at the forthcoming FAIR and FRIB facilities. These studies will be pivotal for developing a ground-breaking microscopic understanding of the structure and properties of nuclei far from stability and the formation of visible matter in the universe.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2015

Measurement of event-by-event transverse momentum and multiplicity fluctuations using strongly intensive measures $Δ[P_T, N]$ and $Σ[P_T, N]$ in nucleus-nucleus collisions at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron

Results from the NA49 experiment at the CERN SPS are presented on event-by-event transverse momentum and multiplicity fluctuations of charged particles, produced at forward rapidities in central Pb+Pb interactions at beam momenta 20$A$, 30$A$, 40$A$, 80$A$, and 158$A$ GeV/c, as well as in systems of different size ($p+p$, C+C, Si+Si, and Pb+Pb) at 158$A$ GeV/c. This publication extends the previous NA49 measurements of the strongly intensive measure $Φ_{p_T}$ by a study of the recently proposed strongly intensive measures of fluctuations $Δ[P_T, N]$ and $Σ[P_T, N]$. In the explored kinematic region transverse momentum and multiplicity fluctuations show no significant energy dependence in the SPS energy range. However, a remarkable system size dependence is observed for both $Δ[P_T, N]$ and $Σ[P_T, N]$, with the largest values measured in peripheral Pb+Pb interactions. The results are compared with NA61/SHINE measurements in $p+p$ collisions, as well as with predictions of the UrQMD and EPOS models.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2013

Phase-space dependence of particle-ratio fluctuations in Pb+Pb collisions from 20A to 158A GeV beam energy

A novel approach, the identity method, was used for particle identification and the study of fluctuations of particle yield ratios in Pb+Pb collisions at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS). This procedure allows to unfold the moments of the unknown multiplicity distributions of protons (p), kaons (K), pions ($π$) and electrons (e). Using these moments the excitation function of the fluctuation measure $ν_{\text{\text{dyn}}}$[A,B] was measured, with A and B denoting different particle types. The obtained energy dependence of $ν_{\text{dyn}}$ agrees with previously published NA49 results on the related measure $σ_{\text{dyn}}$. Moreover, $ν_{\text{dyn}}$ was found to depend on the phase space coverage for [K,p] and [K,$π$] pairs. This feature most likely explains the reported differences between measurements of NA49 and those of STAR in central Au+Au collisions.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2013

Inclusive production of protons, anti-protons, neutrons, deuterons and tritons in p+C collisions at 158 GeV/c beam momentum

The production of protons, anti-protons, neutrons, deuterons and tritons in minimum bias p+C interactions is studied using a sample of 385 734 inelastic events obtained with the NA49 detector at the CERN SPS at 158 GeV/c beam momentum. The data cover a phase space area ranging from 0 to 1.9 GeV/c in transverse momentum and in Feynman x from -0.80 to 0.95 for protons, from -0.2 to 0.4 for anti-protons and from 0.2 to 0.95 for neutrons. Existing data in the far backward hemisphere are used to extend the coverage for protons and light nuclear fragments into the region of intranuclear cascading. The use of corresponding data sets obtained in hadron-proton collisions with the same detector allows for the detailed analysis and model-independent separation of the three principle components of hadronization in p+C interactions, namely projectile fragmentation, target fragmentation of participant nucleons and intranuclear cascading.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2011

Proton -- Lambda Correlations in Central Pb+Pb Collisions at sqrt(s_{NN}) = 17.3 GeV

The momentum correlation between protons and lambda particles emitted from central Pb+Pb collisions at sqrt(s_{NN}) = 17.3 GeV was studied by the NA49 experiment at the CERN SPS. A clear enhancement is observed for small relative momenta (q_{inv} < 0.2 GeV). By fitting a theoretical model, which uses the strong interaction between the proton and the lambda in a given pair, to the measured data a value for the effective source size is deduced. Assuming a static Gaussian source distribution we derive an effective radius parameter of R_G = 3.02 \pm 0.20$(stat.)^{+0.44}_{-0.16}(syst.) fm.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2010

Inclusive production of charged kaons in p+p collisions at 158 GeV/c beam momentum and a new evaluation of the energy dependence of kaon production up to collider energies

New data on the production of charged kaons in p+p interactions are presented. The data come from a sample of 4.8 million inelastic events obtained with the NA49 detector at the CERN SPS at 158 GeV/c beam momentum. The kaons are identified by energy loss in a large TPC tracking system. Inclusive invariant cross sections are obtained in intervals from 0 to 1.7 GeV/c in transverse momentum and from 0 to 0.5 in Feynman x. Using these data as a reference, a new evaluation of the energy dependence of kaon production, including neutral kaons, is conducted over a range from 3 GeV to p+anti-p collider energies.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2009

Inclusive production of protons, anti-protons and neutrons in p+p collisions at 158 GeV/c beam momentum

New data on the production of protons, anti-protons and neutrons in p+p interactions are presented. The data come from a sample of 4.8 million inelastic events obtained with the NA49 detector at the CERN SPS at 158 GeV/c beam momentum. The charged baryons are identified by energy loss measurement in a large TPC tracking system. Neutrons are detected in a forward hadronic calorimeter. Inclusive invariant cross sections are obtained in intervals from 0 to 1.9 GeV/c (0 to 1.5 GeV/c) in transverse momentum and from -0.05 to 0.95 (-0.05 to 0.4) in Feynman x for protons (anti-protons), respectively. pT integrated neutron cross sections are given in the interval from 0.1 to 0.9 in Feynman x. The data are compared to a wide sample of existing results in the SPS and ISR energy ranges as well as to proton and neutron measurements from HERA and RHIC.

hep-ex↗